Even in a Nuggets jersey, J.R. Smith’s arms are sleeved.
And those über-tattooed limbs may arguably be the biggest deciding factor between the Nuggets remaining a playoff contender or becoming an afterthought. The 82-game verdict on Smith’s impact on the Nuggets’ success begins tonight in Utah.
“I think he’s a big key to our team’s success,” all-star forward Carmelo Anthony said. “Coming off the bench, bringing that firepower off the bench.”
Armed with a strong finish last season; a new three-year, $16.5 million contract; and an offseason spent working as a scout player against the U.S. Olympic team, Smith believes he’s getting closer to his true potential. But ask the 6-foot-6, 23-year-old guard how far he is from reaching full potential, and he said he is a long way off.
“I’m not even close,” Smith said. “I think I have another 40 percent to be a complete player, especially being more of a combo guard.”
Asked if he can cover the remaining 40 percent this season, Smith hedged.
“That’s my plan, that’s my goal, definitely,” he said. “I don’t know. That’s a (huge) jump. But I’m going to shoot for it.”
Smith’s career path is littered with rough-around- the-edges play, spectacular offensive shows and questionable decision-making and shot-taking.
Still, “the shots that he takes at a critical time, that’s his game,” Anthony said. “J.R.’s a shooter. He’s a scorer, he’s an offensive player. We know what we’re getting into with J.R. Smith. If somehow I can’t take the last shot and he takes the last shot, we can live with that. As long as it’s not an outrageous shot or anything.”
Unlike last season, Smith doesn’t have to worry about being in coach George Karl’s doghouse. Outside of a couple ill-advised shots in exhibition games, Karl said he has been happy with Smith’s play during training camp and in preseason games.
“I gotta give him a compliment,” Karl said. “His understanding of what we want from him is improving. He still has an immaturity to his game that drives us up the wall at times. But it’s definitely getting less and less every month.”
But there is also no doubt Smith has improved his overall game. In his final 30 games a season ago, he was one of the NBA’s best bench players, averaging 15.7 points in 21.8 minutes, shooting 40 percent from the 3-point line and 46 percent from the field. His points per minute in that stretch were nearly identical to NBA scoring champion Kobe Bryant.
That’s the kind of talent the Nuggets invested in during the offseason with the new contract. Mark Warkentien, Nuggets vice president of basketball operations, praised Smith’s work during the offseason. But the reality of the contract is it is rich in incentives. Three years indicates the organization is committed, but if Smith’s progress relapses, the team is not married to the guard. It means there is incentive for Smith to grow as a player and get a mega-contract down the line.
Smith’s ability to carve the mistakes out of his game has him on some people’s short list of players to keep an eye on for the NBA’s most improved player award. And for that matter, pencil him in on the NBA’s sixth man award watch list.
Most nights, Smith will be the first substitute off the bench and his minutes should climb to more than 25 per game this season. He averaged 19.2 a year ago.
“I think J.R. is one of the premier talents in the league, but talent doesn’t make a basketball player,” Karl said. “There’s a combination of commitment, basketball education and understanding team is more important than individual.
“There’s a lot of things that J.R. is learning. But the process is he’s still got to continue to learn.”
Chris Dempsey: 303-954-1279 or cdempsey@denverpost.com
Going up
Expectations are on the rise for J.R. Smith entering his third season with the Nuggets. His first two seasons with the team:
Category 2006-07 2007-08
Games 63 74
Minutes 23.3 19.2
Points 13.0 12.3
FG% 44.1 46.1
3-point% 39.0 40.3
Rebounds 2.3 2.1
Assists 1.4 1.7
TOs 1.3 1.5
Fouls 2.3 1.9
Denver at Utah
7 p.m. tonight, ALT, KCKK 1510 AM/KRCN 1060 AM
Spotlight on Carlos Boozer: The Jazz all-star was the only player in the NBA to average double figures in rebounds during the preseason, not to mention an overall double- double (14.2 points, 10.2 rebounds). Boozer was a teammate of the Nuggets’ Carmelo Anthony on Team USA this summer at the Beijing Olympics.
Notebook
Kleiza could start for Nuggets. Last week, Nuggets coach George Karl said it was “likely” that Dahntay Jones would start at small forward in place of Carmelo Anthony, who is suspended for the first two games because of a DUI arrest in April. But on Tuesday, Karl said it’s possible Linas Kleiza could start instead of Jones. . . . Reserve forward Renaldo Balkman and his agent said they have not heard from the Nuggets about the possible exercising of his contract option. The deadline is Friday. . . . Three Nuggets are out for tonight’s season opener in Salt Lake City: guard Sonny Weems (groin), center Steven Hunter (knee) and guard Chucky Atkins (knee).
Utah’s Williams, Harpring sidelined against Nuggets. Jazz point guard Deron Williams will miss the team’s season opener tonight because of a second-degree sprain in his left ankle.
The Jazz announced Tuesday that Williams is still recovering and won’t be ready to play against Denver in the opener. Utah hosts the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday, and Williams is doubtful for that game. . . . Jazz forward Matt Harpring will also miss the opener as he recovers from an infection he got after ankle surgery this summer. He missed all of the preseason.
Benjamin Hochman, The Denver Post.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
