Mike Woodson has done something no coach ever has done.
He’s told J.R. Smith not to hesitate when he shoots.
“Other than Coach Woodson, I’ve never been told I was hesitating,” Smith said with a smile after shooting 7 of 11 and scoring 19 points last night in the Knicks’ 100-86 win over the Nets at the Garden.
“They say I’ve never seen a shot I didn’t like, and I’ve been trying to live up to his expectations,” Smith said. “On the defensive end more than anything. The offensive end has been kind of easy.”
No complaints anywhere last night. Smith, in addition to scoring, had three assists, five rebounds and just one turnover.
“He bounced back from the other night,” Woodson said. “He and I had a conversation about his last game and we had an opportunity to work on the floor [Tuesday]. I thought he was very focused when he stepped on the floor, and it carried through the game. I couldn’t be more proud of the way the young man played.”
And Smith did all he was asked — and even what he wasn’t asked to do. He kept his cool in the first quarter on a little rough play with Kris Humphries, who drew a technical foul.
“I didn’t realize they were going to call a technical. It was just being physical, going for the ball,” Smith said. “I didn’t think he deserved a tech.”
Smith now has shot 14 of 24 (.583) after a shaky eight-game run of 40 of 124 (.323).
“Coach just didn’t want me to hesitate,” Smith said. “Take less dribbles, be more efficient on the offensive end and take better shots.”
Done. Done. Done. And then so were the Nets.