The Knicks lost to the Magic 97-95 last night, their sixth straight game we can lump into the loss column. But with 3.5 seconds left, down two, they had the ball and a chance to either tie it up, or win it with a three-pointer. J.R. Smith took the inbounds, and though Carmelo Anthony can be seen calling for the ball, Smith decided to loft a three-pointer that barely glanced off the rim. Cue eyeroll.
In the GIF below, you can see ‘Melo calls for the ball after Smith takes a dribble to the middle behind the three-point arc. Anthony has rookie Aaron Gordon sealed off behind him, and he can pull up to drop a bucket better than just about anyone else in the Association. It’s kind of his thing. Once it becomes obvious Smith is going it alone for the game-winner behind the arc, ‘Melo throws his hands up in frustration.
For the game, Anthony — who had shot awful through the season’s first fortnight — was 10-for-17, including 3-of-4 in the fourth quarter with a three-pointer. He was primed to play hero, but Smith was playing hero ball.
Anthony and JR are buddies, and we’re guessing this will just be a brief blip on the radar screen of that friendship. But it was the Knicks’ six straight loss, and getting players the caliber of Anthony to buy into the triple-post offense, even if it means playing the game differently than they’ve been doing for most of their careers, is an aruduous process to beginw with. It’s imperative a player of with ‘Melo’s skills be given a chance to capitalize on them when the team is facing a do-or-die possession.
We’re guessing Derek Fisher will have a discussion with Smith about that final play, which seemed designed to set Anthony up to get a better look than Smith’s almost-airball.
(video via Mike Sham)
Fair or foul for JR to take that shot?
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