Days after J.R. Smith said he would prefer to start instead of coming off the bench, Knick coach Mike Woodson said the mercurial shooting guard should brace for a role as a sixth man — and told him as much.
With Iman Shumpert recovering from knee surgery and Ronnie Brewer out another week or so, the Knicks have precious few options at shooting guard. But Mychel Thompson was working with the starters again yesterday, and Woodson flatly stated he felt Smith gave the Knicks better balance as instant offense off the bench.
“I kind of like J.R. where he is in terms of coming off the bench, but he could start, too, you never know,’’ Woodson said. “Everybody can’t start. I’ve got a nice mixture of guys in that starting unit from an offensive standpoint. I have to have some offense coming off the bench as well.
“Like I told J.R., if he comes off, there’s nothing wrong with that. Hell, he could be the best player coming off the bench in this league and maybe be the Sixth Man of the Year Award. Hopefully that will translate to a lot of wins and get us to a championship round because at the end of the day that’s what we’re in it for.’’
When asked if Smith received that message the way it was intended, Woodson answered, “Absolutely. I think J.R’s about winning, and I have no other reasons not to expect that. J.R. and I are on the same page. I’m the coach and he’s the player.’’
Carmelo Anthony, who played with Smith for nearly five years in Denver, said his longtime friend can’t let his specific role distract him.
“Whenever J.R’s number is ready to be called, he’s got to be ready, whether he’s a starter or whether he’s a sixth man,” Anthony said. “I don’t think he controls that or he should be worrying about that. If Coach Woodson wants him to start, then he’ll start. If not, then he’ll come off the bench and do what he does best: offense.’’
* Woodson said he plans to use at least 10 players in tomorrow’s preseason opener in Washington. He and Anthony both praised the ball movement the team has shown in practice.
* Vegas oddsmakers Bovada installed the Nets at 30-1 to win the title, the eighth-best odds, while the Knicks were at 35-1, in a three-way tie for 10th.
“I don’t care about no Vegas odds. You know why? Because when you get out there on the hardwood all the guys that are making those bets and making the odds, they’re not out there on that hardwood, so you can’t say that,’’ Wallace said.
“That’s fine with me,’’ Anthony added. “We’re not thinking about them. We’re thinking about ourselves.’’