moocow007 wrote:nykfan42 wrote:moocow007 wrote:
I'm not. I'm trying to be fair. If you are going to look for a blame for the losing you can't simply point to JR smith. He is not the main reason for this team losing games. What is happening is that JR Smith is the new Stephon Marbury...the scapegoat for way too many people here for what's wrong with the Knicks. Same way it wasn't Marbury that was the main reason for the losing then, it's not JR Smith for the losing now. Did both contribute to the losing? OBVIOUSLY. Are they both not likeable guys? SURE. But to single guys out as the recipient of most of the venom is not fair. It really isn't. Has nothing to do with defending JR Smith or thinking he's great. It's about being fair.
He is not the sole reason for losing now but he was the sole reason for why we lost the Pacers series in the Conference semi's in 2013 with his chucking mentality. My reason for hating him is because he is simply not a guy you want on your team if you want to win. His style of play is for street ball not team basketball. His disgustingly low basketball IQ is also a problem. His presence is more often than not detrimental. He'll have a really good game here and there and make smart plays, then have stretches where he just hurts your team by making idiotic plays. The bad outweighs the good and that's why he has to go. I'm sick of his crap.
He was also one of the biggest reasons the Knicks even got the chance to even play the Pacers...or is that blocked out of mind cause it doesn't work in your argument? And you are doing EXACTLY EXACTLY what I'm accusing folks of doing. You hate hate hate him so the good things he's done (and he has) is invisible. His presence lead to contributing to the Knicks 54 win season and their mad dash to trying to get into the playoffs last season. But let's again forget all that cuz you hates him. Him having a good game followed by many bad games in made up nonsense based on overreaction and hate. Again...he's been an integral part of more winning teams than most of the other guys on this team. Should we assume that you know more than George Karl? Show me where the proof that JR Smiths teams have been better without him than with him.
I did not forget that, I also think you're forgetting about the veteran presence we had with Kidd, Kurt and Sheed (even though he didn't play). Melo was in the MVP conversation. That was a huge factor in our success that year. You're giving JR too much credit. Yes I do know JR had his best season of his career, and he was excellent actually winning the 6th man. Like Melo, I believe Earl has not been deep into the playoffs throughout his career. Yes I do hate JR Smith but let's be honest, he's arguably our 2nd best player. Can you honestly say you trust JR Smith in that role? He's not reliable at all. Look at that series against Indy, the first time in 13 years the Knicks were in the 2nd rd and he shot them out of it shooting 29%. He was too busy partying during the biggest series in the last 13 years. I don't trust him and he'll shoot you out of games more often than he'll shoot you into games.
No one is going to remember or care about what you did in the regular season. I'm a Yankee fan and I don't know if you follow baseball or not but I'm gonna use Nick Swisher as an example. He was a very good player for us. He got on base, played solid defense, hit for power, drove in runs etc. You know what happened when October rolled around? He choked, he was AWFUL. If you don't perform in the postseason when it matters no one cares about what you did from April-September.
It is hate, I agree but it's justified with his play which lacks basketball IQ and winning instincts. JR doesn't play better under pressure, he's a career 38% shooter in the playoffs and would be much lower without his one good postseason in 2009. He is not reliable and not a guy I want on my team if I'm trying to build a contender. That is all.
Sorry, didn't mean to suggest that. I just posted it to make you laugh.
