Smith looks back at the end of the Knicks’ season last year.
New York Knicks star J.R. Smith has claimed that his post-season slump last year was a result of “p****** off the NBA gods”.
With his team leading the Boston Celtics by 19 points in Game 3 of their first round series last year, Smith received a one-game suspension after maliciously elbowing Jason Terry.
Although the Knicks went on to win that series with Smith a focal point of their success off the bench, his numbers plummeted thereafter and his team were eventually defeated by the Indiana Pacers.
The 28-year-old was never able to make better than 38.5 per cent of his shots in his next eight post-season appearances, and he now believes he knows the reason why.
“I call it ‘p****** the NBA gods off,’ ” Smith said according to ESPN New York.
“You’re making, making, making a lot of shots — and you mess with the basketball game and the game gets you back. And it definitely got me back.”
While Smith would ordinarily be itching for the new campaign to start later this month, the controversial star recently received a five-game suspension after violating the league’s drug policy.
Meanwhile, he has also become embroiled in a war of words with rivals the Brooklyn Nets, and has guaranteed that the Knicks will win a title.
As a result, coach Mike Woodson was forced into admitting that he “needs to grow up” at media day, and insisted that he needs to start helping himself and his team-mates.
While the reigning Sixth Man of the Year will be absent for the season opener, the Knicks will be hoping that he is fully focused on the task in hand upon his comeback.
COMMENTS