http://web.sny.tv/media/video.jsp?content_id=25913513
By DAN KELLY
Special to ZAGSBLOG
NEW YORK — Jason Kidd didn’t hesitate when asked why J.R. Smith is playing so well as of late.
“He’s putting the ball well,” Kidd said after Smith went for a career-high 37 points on 12-for-18 shooting in the Knicks’ 111-102 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats, their seventh straight victory. “He’s putt-ing.”
There was stifled laughter, but Kidd wasn’t joking.
“He loves golf so we talk golf all the time,” Kidd said. “He’s putting those little 10-footers quite well right now.”
A year ago, Smith was playing in China. Now, he’s gone for 30-plus points off the bench in three straight outings, the first time an NBA player has done so since 1990. He’s averaging 34.7 in his last three games.
Coach Mike Woodson is impressed that Smith is no longer settling for a barrage of 3-pointers and is instead taking the ball aggressively to the basket.
“Anybody can jack up a three,” he said. “But can you go get a solid two? Can you get to the rim and get fouled? Perhaps you’ll get a three-point play that way. That was my whole argument with J.R. He was just settling. But here, as of late, he’s been pretty good at mixing it up. His all around game is solid right now.”
In the last three games Smith is 35-for-60 shooting, averaging 34.7 points and outscoring Carmelo Anthony in all three games. The big difference in his game is his consistent forays into the paint.
For the season Smith has gotten to the rim for 221 shot attempts. During this Knicks’ seven-game wining streak Smith has taken 50 of those shots at the rim and he’s made 35. He’s shooting 53.9 percent from the floor during the streak compared to 41.5 percent for the season.
Against Charlotte, he got to the rim 11 times and drew enough contact to attempt 12 free throws.
“I’m trying to get to the cup as much as I can and convert on opportunities and find my teammates,” he said.
“The last time I was going like this was in high school [at St. Benedict’s Prep],” he added.
Anthony is impressed.
“I have played with him…probably nine seasons,” he said. “I have never seen him play the way he is playing right now…He is focused. He is dialed in, locked in. He is playing extremely well and his confidence is sky-high. We are following his lead.”
Kidd returned to his metaphorical golf course to explain why Smith’s excellent play is sustainable.
“He has the ability now to hit it 315 right down the middle,” Kidd said. “It’s easy. The game is coming to him easy…He’s playing as well as anybody right now.”
With eight of their remaining eleven games coming against playoff-bound teams the Knicks are going to need Smith to stay on the fairway and keep them on the right side of the Eastern playoff bracket.
Photo: Daily News
