J.R. Smith might be feuding with Mike Woodson, but he doesn’t think the Knicks coach’s defensive scheme is the cause of the team’s five-game losing streak and 15-27 record.
The Knicks held a three-hour practice Thursday with a lengthy film session to review their horrendous loss to the Sixers, and Smith said the coach may be trying some new stuff. Woodson has hinted at going to a zone as an alternative to his complicated switching system that has often left shooters open.
“Right now we’re pretty much open to anything new,’’ Smith said. “The old stuff isn’t really getting it done. But at the end of the day, it’s going to come from the players. I don’t think it’s coach’s fault or the scheme’s fault. If you play hard and play smart it’s tough to lose games.’’
Asked his view of Woodson’s defensive system, Smith said: “That’s really not my area of expertise. I’m more of a scoring-type player. I’ll leave that to those guys. Whatever they want to do, it’s OK with me. Just let me know.’’
Smith said the bulk of Woodson’s message during the film study was the team had to “play smarter’’ and “not force anything’’ down the stretch.
A testy Woodson declined to discuss his message.
“It was a film session,’’ he snapped at a reporter.