While the other Knicks were going through a light workout, J.R. Smith was on his own. He was working furiously with trainer Idan Ravin, running baseline to baseline, sinking one jump shot after another.
It was the final dress rehearsal for Smith before the enigmatic shooting guard makes his regular-season debut Sunday against the reigning Western Conference champion Spurs.
“I can’t wait,” Smith said after the workout, sweat dripping from his brow. “It’s going to be a big game.”
A lot has happened since Smith last played in a meaningful basketball game. He was suspended five games for violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy for allegedly testing positive for marijuana. He underwent patellar tendon surgery and arthroscopy on his left knee shortly after inking a three-year, $18 million contract with the Knicks.
“I just want to do so well for my teammates,” said Smith, who played in the team’s final exhibition game. “I feel like I’ve not really been a part of the team, but still being a part of the team is tough. You can’t get out there physically and help these guys. You can only do so much from a communications standpoint. …. There’s only so much you can do from the sideline. [I’m] just happy to get it over with.”
Last season’s NBA Sixth Man of the Year will come off the bench in his return, Knicks coach Mike Woodson said. Woodson didn’t specify whether Smith will permanently be in that role, but Woodson wanted to keep the status quo after Friday’s 101-91 victory in Charlotte, meaning Iman Shumpert isn’t headed to the bench, at least not yet.
Woodson wouldn’t put a minutes limit on Smith, but said he doubts the shooting guard will see more than 30 minutes of action.
“It gives us a great spark from the bench and it’s great for us, especially when Tyson [Chandler’s] down having a guy like J.R. back is huge,” said Andrea Bargnani, who is coming off a 25-point, eight-rebound, five-block performance.
Smith said his left knee isn’t “where I want it to be” yet. He has good days and bad days, he said. The explosion isn’t all the way back.
“I’m not my normal self,” Smith said. “I’m working my way back. It’s a tough process. I kind of benefited from sitting these five games out for my knee and for it to get healthier and for me to get in better game shape. So I only look at it as a positive.”
The Knicks will need all hands on deck to beat the 5-1 Spurs. It will be interesting to see how the Knicks handle San Antonio guard Tony Parker, who they held in check last year. Shumpert could see some time on the ultra-skilled Frenchman, but the onus likely will fall on point guards Raymond Felton and Pablo Prigioni.
“Parker’s a load, for all teams,” Woodson said. “He’s good in making mid-range shots, he’s capable of making a 3, and he puts so much heat on you at the rim by penetrating the ball and making plays for himself and his teammates. It’s going to take a total team effort in terms of him having to see a wall. If it’s just you and him, you can forget about it.”
The Knicks are hoping to build off Friday night’s win in Charlotte, a victory Woodson called a “gut check,” the team’s best all-around performance of the year, according to the coach.
“First time we had a game where we competed for 48 minutes, and the results were in our favor,” Woodson said. “Coming back watching film [Saturday] morning, we did a lot of nice things [Friday] night.”