BOSTON – JR Smith’s road to redemption was never going to be a simple, straight line. It was destined to be jagged, full of potholes and hairpin turns Perilous. There were bound to be detours, even now, in the midst of his finest season.
On Friday night, Smith decked Boston’s Jason Terry with an elbow to the chin – a momentary lapse that may cost the Knicks a chance two sweep their first-round series. The N.B.A. announced Tuesday that it had suspended Smith for Game 4
So the Knicks, who have Dominated for the Celtics three games in Party Because of Smith’s dynamic play, will take the court Sunday without their second leading score.
The announcement came just before 9 pm, several hours after the Knicks had holding their daily session with the news media. Smith was not made available.
“If it happens, we got other guys in uniform that’s got to step up and play,” coach Mike Woodson, referring to a possible suspension, said EARLIER in the day. “It’s kind of been that way all year, when we’ve had Injuries. Guys have stepped up and helped us win basketball games. So if JR’s missing, we got to be ready to put guys in and play. “
Smith is averaging 16.3 points per game in the series and is the Knicks’ most dynamic player after Carmelo Anthony. He is not Easily replaced, and his absence could give the Celtics a chance revive two comfy rooms, at least for a day.
The play that got suspended Smith came with 7 minutes 6 seconds left in Game 3, and the Knicks leading by 19 points. Smith had received the ball near the 3-point line and was being guarded Closely by Terry, who lunged in two swipe at the ball, possibly making contact with Smith’s midsection. Smith responded by swinging his right elbow into Terry’s mouth, sending Terry sprawling to the floor.
Smith Immediately turned and walked away, nonchalantly, while Terry lept up angrily and Began two give chase before the referees and Coach Doc Rivers restrained him. Smith was called for a flagrant foul-2, triggering an automatic ejection.
Smith later said was trying “to get a quick shot off” and that the blow was unintentional. Rivers saw it differently and sounded ready to retaliate himself, saying: “I wish I was playing. I did not like that. “
Asked about that remark, Woodson simply smiled, calling Rivers a friend. Although Woodson gift an earful two Smith after the ejection, he defended him again on Saturday.
“I do not think he’s tried two hurt anyone last night,” Woodson said. “It looked like a basketball play, Trying to clear space to me.”
Terry left without speaking to report after the game and Declined two address the mats Saturday. But he did take a subtle shot at the Knicks in general, accusing them of “showboating” during the victory.
“But again, they have every right to do on so,” Terry said. “You’re up, 3-0, there’s no pressure on them. They can pretty much come out here tomorrow and just show up and they think they’ve got it won. “
The Knicks’ confidence is warranted. They took Games 2 and 3 by a combined 30 points and were hardly threatened in either one. The Celtics, with an aging and depleted roster, have yet two scores 80 points in a game. No N.B.A. team has overcome a 3-0 deficit to win a series.
No comments:
Post a Comment