<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">It wasn't just J.R. Smith's defensive play that Coach Byron Scott thought was miserable during Monday night's loss to the San Antonio Spurs. Scott also thought Smith's attitude was bad. The coach said Smith wasn't showing enough defensive hustle, so at halftime he asked the guard if he really wanted to play. "I didn't get an answer for a few minutes, so I used some other choice words," said Scott, who still appeared to be angry about the situation after Tuesday's practice. "The one thing I'm not going to tolerate is attitude, especially from a 19-year-old. I've got kids older than him. "This game is not respected enough by younger players. They take a lot of stuff for granted." </div> Source
I agree with Scott. JR Smith might have a lot of potential and might be something great, maybe a franchise player down the line, but he cannot afford to coast at times. Giving his all and playing like every game is his last should be the mental approach to all NBA games by players. Just because you get paid more or have more talent than others doesn't mean you can afford to play without effort.
I think he has hit a rookie wall. He is on one of the worst teams in the league, there playoff hopes are dead, what is left to play for? They don't have fans streaming in to see them. I think in the future J.R. will be a great player, a franchise player, but you can't blame him. He is young and frustrated, his attitude will improve with time.
Pretty dissapointing, he should'nt start of his career like that, as a rookie, this is a good oppurtunity for him to play hard, get experience, and get minutes, so I see no need for him to be coasting, even if his team is bad.
He should turn around his attitude like Ricky Davis before he starts gettin traded. See that is what happened to Ricky is that he kept gettin traded even though he wasnt that bad and that could happen to JR if he doesnt turn it around.
if he keeps it up he will end up like Eddie Robinson. known for only 1 thing, dunks on a break. and will be sitting out seasons wishing he wouldve just played the game. where is eddie robinson? well maybe hes at home watching the elite eight instead of playing ball for a nba squad. look where his attitude got him. bad attitude plus a the skills of an 8th grader equals no tick!
I don't see why all of you are jumping on his case. He had an attitude problem. Every player in the league has had one at one point or another, he is just a rookie. J.R. has skills up the ying yang, he has athleticism, look at Marbury..horrible attitude, but a top guard in this league..same with Artest. Just because you have a bad attitude doesn't mean you are goign to be bad or you can't change it (look at Ricky Davis right now..)
Marbury, Artest, used to be Rasheed... Bad attitudes. Guess who kicked the 'tude to the curb? Rasheed. Guess who got themself a ring? Rasheed. All of the great ones listened to their coaches. Duncan did, and he won. Rasheed did, and he won. Shaq did, and he won. Jordan did, and he won. 6 times. Sure, maybe J.R. never had a chance to be in those guy's ballparks... But like a previous poster said, he's going to be on the diamond with E-Rob if he doesn't quit this nonsense.
Jr JR has been playing better than expected this season and SHOULDNT BE BENCHED. Its the coaches job nowadays to deal with the players and their aditudes because you need to do what is best to win games. By benching him it isnt helping the team just asserting the coaches authority. He should be trying to find a way to make sure it doesnt affect the team and move forward without having to bench him. Then again losing a few games doesnt really matter in the hornets case
If a player doesn't really want to play, he should be benched. What Byron is doing is the absolute right thing. He will not be disrespected, and demands players to give their all. Chris Andersen and PJ Brown go all out for that team every night, he should learn from them. Franchise players always play hard.
