I've said it time and time again, J.R Smith has become the legit second scorer on the New York Knicks. The reason for it, is because he can score from anywhere. With team full of three-point shooters and with Carmelo Anthony and Raymond Felton, who are the other Knicks' all around scorers, they needed Smith throughout this game to be that only ubiquitous scorer on the floor.
Without Smith, who the Knicks go to in that spot? No one. In a clutch situation, with Anthony and Felton out, Smith will be their guy to go to. Jason Kidd -- even though, who clutch defensively again -- can't score inside anymore. Tyson Chandler isn't much of a scorer, even though we saw him make some perimeter shots and make them in. The rest were three-point shooters, and you can't try to win the game with a three-pointer when the score is tied.
We can't forget Smith's shot in the second to last possession in the fourth quarter, when tied the score at 97 with a jump shot that had Phoenix Suns' T.J Tucker all over him. That was a shot, and probably more clutch than the game winning shot. If he doesn't make that shot, Knicks lose.
In that game winning shot, Smith slipped as he was running to get a clean bound pass from Kidd.
Jason Kidd: Where in the hell would the Knicks be without this guy? So far, Kidd has been the Knicks' MVP; I know how great Anthony has been, but you understand the game you know valuable Kidd has become to this team.
Kidd has 23 points, 6 total rebounds and 8 assist. Vintage Jason Kidd, that was.
