Dennis Smith Jr. likely won’t be able to get away with not giving maximum effort on the defense as a member of the New York Knicks.
Smith went to the Knicks as part of the blockbuster trade that saw Kristaps Porzingis head to the Dallas Mavericks. The second-year guard should have plenty of opportunities to show what he can do with New York. However, he will need to focus on defense as well as offense to stay on the floor under head coach David Fizdale.
David Fizdale says he wants to put the ball in Dennis Smith Jr.’s regularly and that he will challenge him to improve on the defensive end.
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) February 2, 2019
The Knicks have been among the worst defensive teams in the NBA so far this season. Fizdale hopes the arrival of veterans DeAndre Jordan and Wes Matthews will help the team’s young players improve on defense.
David Fizdale says he wants to find minutes for DeAndre Jordan and Wes Matthews Jr. because he believes it will help the younger Knicks learn defensive principles.
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) February 2, 2019
Fizdale has a young team on his hands and it sounds like he’s counting on Jordan and Matthews to help with the development of the those players. Their development could be in key in potentially supplementing big name free agents should the Kicks sign any with the salary cap space they freed up with the Porzingis trade.
