Carmelo Anthony is hopeful the fallout from J.R. Smith's benching last week has "opened his eyes" and the enigmatic forward is now ready to aid the Knicks in getting back in the Eastern Conference race.
"We've had numerous talks," Anthony told the New York Post of the man he previously spent nearly five seasons with in Denver. "Me and J.R. talk sometimes all day and night. Certain situations, you have to open your eyes and look yourself in the mirror and say 'It's time to change myself. Everyone else is giving me chances and everybody else wants me to change. If I'm not changing myself, it's irrelevant."
The same could be said of the Knicks team as a whole, who, after a season of struggle, currently find themselves in the midst of a four-game winning streak. In their Saturday night 102-92 win over Philadelphia, it was Smith who stole the show.
"I think this is a situation that opened his eyes," Anthony told The Post after Smith scored 14 points and dished out six assists in sparking the Knicks. "He looked at himself in the mirror, hopefully, and said he wants to change, he's got to change. It's up to him now."
Coach Mike Woodson later told The Post he only turned to Smith because the Knicks struggled out of the game and he was hopeful the recently little used player might be able to provide energy.
Mission accomplished, as Smith fueled a 32-12 second quarter run with 11 points and 4 assists.
Afterwards, The Post described Smith's mood in the locker room as giddy, adding he was openly clowning around with buddy Iman Shumpert as if nothing had ever happened.
When asked by the newspaper if he had learned anything from this latest controversy, Smith answered, "Don't goof around, I guess.''
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