Saturday, February 18, 2012

Why Signing JR Smith Makes Perfect Sense For the Knicks


For starters:

1)   Knicks as a team shoot a paltry 29.9% from the 3 point line (29th in the league out of 30 teams)

2)   The Knick backcourt of Iman Shumpert, Landry Fields, Jeremy Lin, Bill Walker, Toney Douglas, and Mike Bibby combine to shoot 27.5% from 3 point range (JR Smith over his 7 year career? 37%).



I'm a big picture thinker. Thankfully, the Knicks general management team shares that. This move in the big picture is about the playoffs.  When you look at the backcourt the Knicks possessed pre-JR, there was no one of note that would make the Dwayne Wade's, Rip Hamilton's, or Ray Allen's of the world lose any sleep.

Landry Fields simply doesn't have the skill set nor athletic ability off the bounce to make quality opposing 2-guards work hard to defend him.  (Must I remind you all of his infamous 1.8 ppg in the 4 game sweep vs. Boston in last year's postseason, shooting 20% from the field, and 16% (1-6) from the foul line?????)

For all the upside that Iman Shumpert possesses, he's still a rookie who isn't a proficient jumpshooter at this stage, and is still learning how to find his comfort zone offensively at the pro level.




Bill Walker is fearless, but is a hit or miss type of player who is relentless at attempting 3's.  And although it may surprise some that Walker actually has a higher 3 point % in his career than Smith, JR isn't relegated to just being a 3 point attempt specialist.  He's just as relentless and fearless as Walker, but accompanies that with a midrange off the dribble game, and can finish above the rim with regularity in the paint.

Smith is a better talent with a higher ceiling than any SG the Knicks have.

And NOW to the fun part.

The horror stories about JR Smith's baggage, the "team cancer" label, the 'selfish'  label headlined by this not so endorsing narrative from former teammate Casey Jacobsen , off the court drama, issues with coaches, etc. I'm not going to ignore some of these points the anti-JR Smith camp have brought up because some of them are legit concerns.




I'll remind you, however, that there's something in life called maturity.  It should not always be assumed that because a player has shown himself to be a knucklehead in the past that he'll forever remain that way.  People are too quick to paint certain athletes in a light that they can't or WON'T ever change their ways for the better.  

Can he ultimately wind up blowing up and regressing into his old habits?  Sure.  But I won't speak on it as if it's a guarantee.

The "chemistry" stuff has been overblown. Just because the Knicks were on a 7 game winning streak beating lottery teams and sub .500 road teams doesn't mean that their glaring flaws suddenly went away. 

In a system predicated on spacing the floor, and playing with prolific scorers that draw attention, being the second worst 3 point shooting team in the NBA is not the type of "chemistry" that's sustainable to beating upper echelon opponents in April and May.

I applaud Knick management for not being blinded by the Linsanity that many others are blinded by, and recognizing the team is still in need of improvements to its roster.

For months and months, I've touted that JR Smith would become an instant fan favorite in the Garden due to his explosive style of play, his on-court self-confidence, the fire and passion he displays on the floor, and his shot making ability.  He will be embraced and beloved by the Garden faithful in the same vein that another guy who once upon a time was acquired by the Knicks with a ton of baggage surrounding him was embraced during a lockout-shortened season. 

Welcome to NY, JR. 







1.      

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Overlook'DDD in the Linsanity

While the waves of “Linsanity” produced by Jeremy Lin have been felt nationwide and his impact to the Knicks during their 7 game winning streak is unquestioned, an overlooked aspect of the teams’ recent success has been the one glaring weaklink of the team since Mike D’Antoni became head coach: The team Defense.

I, for one, have always been a proponent that the players are more responsible than the coaches for how effective they play defensively.  Coaches can certainly help with scheme, matchups and intricate strategies in certain key situations of a game, but when it comes to overall effort, personal pride, and downright “on the fly” basketball IQ, these are aspects that coaching has little to no impact on while the ball is in play.  



According to basketball-reference.com’s  Defensive Rating (DRtg) metric (one I personally trust the most), the Knicks are currently ranked 5th in the NBA (and that’s not a misprint, folks). That’s up 17 spots after a ranking of 22nd a year ago.  In  D’Antoni’s first 3 seasons as head coach, the Knicks average DRtg rank?: 24.

So why the big jump this year?   Is it because a) the coach suddenly became ‘smart’ about defensive gameplanning and scheming?  b) because Mike Woodson graced the Knicks presence with his defensive brilliance (Hawks average DRtg rank in Woodson’s 6 years there?: 20th)    Or is it c)  because the defensive personnel has improved at some critical positions? 

Coop in Philly goes with choice c). 

Two tremendous new roster additions from last season have stood out. 



Tyson Chandler is an elite defensive Center.  Communication, leadership, rebounding, shot altering & shot blocking, his athleticism in help defense, pick and roll defense; all things Tyson’s brought to the table as he’s been the best and most consistent Knick of this season to date.

Perhaps the biggest benefit he brings is the ability to defend 1 on 1 in the post without a double team (something that makes coaches look brilliant).

The second player who’s flown under the radar in mainstream America is 1st year player, Iman Shumpert; a guy I pegged an elite defensive player after watching 2-3 games of film.  From what I’ve seen as this season has played out, I stand by my initial scouting report. 



Listed at 6’5, 220 pounds, Shump is truly a special, shutdown player from the backcourt, in the ilk of Tony Allen, Bruce Bowen.  He defends 1’s, 2’s, and 3’s, has very quick feet, a wingspan of a 6’11 player, anticipates and positions his body well to force ball handlers to change directions, and he is a master of the “strip low” technique; getting his hands on the ball as a ballhandler picks up his dribble preparing to take a shot or make a pass.  

He has lightning quick hands, incredible anticipation with basketball IQ and instincts to go with his physical gifts.   His 4th quarter lockdown job against Jose Calderon in Toronto was a beauty to witness; perhaps an even bigger reason for the victory than Lin’s late game heroics.


I’d be remiss if I didn’t also give a major shoutout to Jared Jeffries, who’s commitment on defense, his help and recover skills, drawing charges (4th in the NBA) has always been a positive of his game.  He’s been a vital cog to this defensive renaissance. 



So the next time you hear a famous TNT analyst who shall remain nameless, or any ESPN ‘expert’ analyst breakdown the 2011-2012 Knicks and still mention defense as being a problem, you can pretty much disqualify any and everything else that comes out of their mouths about the team.