Mike Woodson Says JR Smith’s Shooting Struggles Are a ‘Major Concern’

JR Smith hasn’t been shooting the ball too well lately—the Knicks guard shot 0-8 from the field during Saturday night’s tilt against Philadelphia, and not much better a couple nights earlier vs. Boston. No big deal, or serious concern? Knicks coach Mike Woodson seems to think it’s the latter, according to Newsday: “J.R. Smith has hit some big shots for the Knicks this season, but Saturday night, he couldn’t hit anything. Smith, the team’s second-leading scorer, was 0-for-8 from the field and held without a point in the Knicks’ 97-80 loss to the 76ers. ‘I couldn’t throw it in the ocean,’ he said. Mike Woodson said he’s concerned because Smith has been struggling with his shot lately. Smith said he’s ‘probably thinking too much.’ Although he hit a huge three-pointer late in Thursday’s win in Boston, he’s 3-for-24 in the last two games and 23-for-86 in his last six. ‘Major concern,’ Woodson said. ‘J.R. is a big part of what we do on both ends of the floor. He didn’t even make a shot. We got to program him back to playing like he’d been playing and get him playing at a high level, because we’re going to need it.'”