NBA Rumors: JR Smith Makes New York Knicks Title Contenders

After everything Jeremy Lin has done over the past seven games, and all the attention placed upon the team, you'd think the New York Knicks were the greatest squad in the entire NBA.

Despite being miraculously brought back to life by the play of Lin, the fact remains that the Knicks are 15-15 and are just a dry spell away from being knocked out of the playoff picture once again.

J.R. Smith, who is reportedly close to landing a deal with the Knicks, could be the necessary piece this season to make sure that doesn't happen. 

While it's going to be tough to compete with the Chicago Bulls and the Miami Heat out East, Smith would add depth, talent and bring instant relief to one area where the Knicks have hurt the most this season—shooting.

The Knicks have the highest discrepancy in the NBA between three-pointers made and three-pointers attempted. Despite throwing up the third most attempts from downtown this season, the Knicks are only completing about 30 percent of those shots, the third worst in the NBA.

Averaging the third highest pace in the NBA this season, the team falls all the way down to 23rd in the offensive efficiency category, and ranks just 13th in points per game.

The Knicks need to realize that playing fast is only effective when you score the ball.

Smith can do both.

The team should expect to see a boost on offense when Carmelo Anthony officially makes his return to the Knicks' lineup, but some fans are questioning whether or not the superstar can coexist with Lin, the newfound hero of New York City.

Lin, himself, has admitted that he's taken over the scoring role too strongly, and that fans should expect to see much more of a distributor when Anthony returns.

But while he is sure to provide a kick to the New York offense, Anthony's numbers haven't been what you might expect from the superstar this season.

22.4 points per game is nothing to scoff at in the NBA, but for a player who averages just below 25 for his career, and was up above 26 last season, his production has taken a hit coming out of the lockout.

His three-point shooting may have taken the biggest hit though, as he's shooting under 30 percent, while still hoisting up more than four per game.

Smith, having spent the past few months playing in China, isn't likely to see any of the lockout-lag that many NBA players have seen so far this season. Sure, the talent comparability is questionable; but any player who can rack off 14 three-pointers in a 60-point game should be considered dangerous in just about any league.

Able to play off the bench, or in the starting lineup, Smith is a double-digit scorer, who for his career has shot the ball well from behind the arch. Over his seven years in the NBA, Smith has a three-point percentage of just over 37 percent, nearly reaching 40 percent last season.

The Knicks would have to cut one player from their current roster in order to make space for Smith, but on a team that is lacking depth and consistency from its wings, the sacrifice will be well worth it.

While Smith has dealt with his own consistency issues in the past, he has one thing going for him.

He's always a threat to catch fire.

A streaky shooter can be a risk, especially if his shot selection isn't always the best. But as a third or fourth scoring option for the Knicks, Smith can step in and become a guy who plays at their pace and fills his roles nicely.

Anthony and Amare Stoudemire are going to see double-teams—a lot of them, in fact. Lin certainly helps that, but shooting only 25 percent from behind the arch all season, he is not going to be the best option to kick it back outside and light it up.  

Smith, on the other hand, can force defenses to stay honest, having the ability to rack off three or four shots in a row before you even realize what's happened.

But while Smith to the Knicks sounds like a no-brainer, don't expect the excitement of Linsanity to strike twice in New York.

There's going to be an adjustment period for the Knicks, and Smith isn't likely to pull off any Smithsanity of his own.

But that's the beautiful thing for the Knicks—he won't have to.

Winning seven straight games under the brilliance of Lin, the team has already begun to taste success, and the necessary resurrection of the lowly Knicks from earlier this season has already taken place.

Anthony will be back, the Knicks are already relevant again and on a team that desperately needs shooting and scoring, Smith could be the guy who steps in and makes just a big enough splash to propel the Knicks to the next level out East.