The New York Knicks are struggling early in the season, with injuries to big men Amar'e Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler and the inconsistent play of superstar Carmelo Anthony hurting the team that last season made it as the number two seed in the East.
With a 2-3 win loss record heading into Sunday's game against Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs, the Knicks will receive a boost from the bench when Sixth Man of the Year awardee J.R. Smith returns to action after serving a five-game suspension for violating the league's substance policy.
The NY Post.com is reporting that Smith has been practicing with the team but admitted his conditioning is still far from ideal. "Hopefully, I'll be all right," he told the website. Smith also said that he is still working to get his knee working on full strength again after undergoing offseason surgery. "I'm not my normal self," he added.
Smith signed a four-year, $25 million contract with the Knicks in the summer after an explosive 2012-13 season with the Knicks which had him winning the Sixth Man of the Year award. Smith formed a lethal offensive duo with scoring champion Anthony to propel the Knicks into playoff contention.
In the playoffs, however, Smith was suspended one game after elbowing Jason Terry then of the Boston Celtics in their first round match-up. Although the Knicks advanced to the second round after beating the Celts, 4-2, Smith was a dud the rest of the way. He shot just 29.1 percent the rest of the way as the Knicks fell to the Indiana Pacers in six games.
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