All signs point towards New York Knicks point guard Dennis Smith Jr. having a dominant 2019 season. Why? Because his offseason training has been extensive and progressive.
The one thing Smith Jr. was missing from his game was an affective perimeter shot, an essential attribute for any premier point guard. Kemba Walker has it, Kyrie Irving, Kyle Lowry…but it could be Smith’s time to finally take the jump.
Knicks assistant coach Keith Smart has been working Dennis to exhaustion the past six weeks, putting up thousands of shots and tweaking his technique to help refine one of his most visible weaknesses. Making that part of his game a strength essentially makes him a well-rounded player.
The young offensive-minded point guard not only has elite athleticism but has the mental motivation to elevate his game. After being selected No. 9 in the 2017 NBA Draft, Smith Jr. has posted a mediocre .407 shooting percentage, .316 from 3. The one thing Smart hit on in regards to his shooting motion was finding “balance on his jump shot.”
According to the New York Post, Smart noticed hiccups in Dennis’ game upon his arrival:
“When we traded for Dennis, you have look at every player how can we help them get better shooting the basketball or passing,†Smart stated. “We got together in the gym in February to get a feel, look at his shot, what I can help him with. I got a picture of it.â€
The refinement of shooting technique is no easy feat — it involved breaking bad habits and forcefully learning new ones. It’s a tedious process which Smart mentions in his interview, but necessary for a player looking to take his game to the next level.
Ultimately, if there’s any single person who can help Smith reach his potential in that facet, it’s “The Shot Doctor.” Helping create the ‘balance’ and fundamental technique will help exponentially, but it’s a step-by-step process. Starting from sitting in a chair and shooting to the full motion, understanding your mechanics and how to properly follow through and engage in a jump shot is difficult.
The movement must be swift and natural, which is how Smart will help develop Smith’s deficiency.