Consider most of these numbers are not adjusted for pace. Most of the teams he’s led have played slow. Most of the players who rank ahead of him have played in faster offenses.

Assists per 48 LEAGUE rank compared to Andre Miller (who is rightfully considered the most underrated passer in the NBA)

2011: Felton 13th (9.8 ap48) Miller 5th (11.7 ap48)
2010: Felton 8th (11.0 ap48) Miller 11th (10.3)
2009: Felton 23rd (8.1 ap48) Miller 16th (8.5)
2008: Felton 20th (8.6 ap48) Miller 19th (8.6)
2007: Felton 9th (9.4 ap48) Miller 14th (9.0)
2006: Felton 13th (9.2 ap48) Miller 9th (10.1)

Here’s the interesting part. They both do it in completely different ways. Felton is a traditional penetrate and kick, pick and roll point guard. Miller is an incredible quarterback who reads the defense at every point of the floor.

Now, I think the post-Lin Knicks have constructed their backcourt brilliantly.

Kidd is not a penetrate and kick point guard. He’s now an Andre Miller kind of passer, leading the break from behind so to speak. Just two years ago Kidd was 6th in the NBA in ap48, and fifth in 2010 — he’s a brilliant passer in all the ways Felton is not.

You can put both guys on the floor at the same time — comfortably on defense — and have the best passing combination in the NBA.

A BETTER version of Barrea/Kidd.

Kidd provides better than average spot-up shooting in the half-court and is brilliant at putting teammates in position to score by anticipating defensive breakdowns.

Dual pg lineups that will be incredibly efficient offensively:

Kidd/Felton/JR/Melo/Amar’e
Kidd/Felton/Melo/Amar’e/Chandler
Kidd/Felton/Novak/JR/Chandler
Kidd/Felton/Novak/Melo/Amar’e

Those are all elite offensive units. You can sprinkle one pf Shumpert/Brewer/Camby into each of those lineups if you want more balance.

sidestep:
According to HoopData, among shooting guards who played 25mpg last season, JR Smith was the league leader in the percentage of unassisted (77.5%) long two pointers. (Long two pointer defined as 16-23 feet). Joe Johnson comes in second place.

JR Smith
4.0 attempts per 40min, 41.0 FG%, 77.5% unassisted.

Joe Johnson
4.9 attempts per 40min, 42.0 FG%, 76.6% unassisted.

Yep bad shots. But making those kind of shots at 41% takes special talent. That’s a very difficult shot for a reason. You just want to take the vast majority of them out of your offense if you can– IF YOU CAN– and the Knicks can.

The Honorable Cock Jowles:
Knicks

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u don’t even like yourself

Except for when Lin played well, the Knicks were for the most part a team that played like a chicken with it’s head cut off. Raymond Felton is not John Stocton, but he had double-figure assists 27 times in his 54 games with the Knicks in 2010-11. Kidd and Prigioni are quintessential pass-first PGs with enormously high b-ball IQ’s. They will have lots of time in preseason to figure out how to utilize JR’s talents and minimize his faults.

If the definition of ‘creating your own shot’ is simply chucking a fadeaway long 2, well, it doesn’t take any special skill to do this if you are a starter-level offensive player.

JR Smith
4.0 attempts per 40min, 41.0 FG%, 77.5% unassisted.

Joe Johnson
4.9 attempts per 40min, 42.0 FG%, 76.6% unassisted.

It’s not that he’s too stupid to realize that he’s more efficient off the ball, it’s that he’s often playing without teammates who can put him in that position.

And it should be understood that coaches have put him in playmaking situations off the bench because he’s shown tremendous promise — at times he’s a great pnr passer, he’s obviously an incredible finisher, and he’s got better than average handle for a two guard. Denver experimented with JR as the pg in the half-court much of the 2009 season after the series he had against LA. But he doesn’t have a great first step and too much of his movement is lateral. He doesn’t get to the basket that well.

Miami is a perfect example of a situation that dictated JR make plays. I think you realize that without a pick and roll threat or a dribble penetration threat, JR became the de-facto initiator much of the time.

He had a hard time getting a step on his defender last year compared to previous seasons, and did rely too much on very difficult step-backs.

All of that being said, it’s not as though his ability to make difficult shots isn’t an asset. It’s just not one that a healthy offense should need very often. And if the team is healthy next year, it won’t.

daJudge:
ruru and others interested—the stats bear out the notion that JR can be a really fine complimentary player as a starter.Relied upon to be the man may in fact bring out the worst flaws in his game/head.Playing with those defined as stars may actually increase his ability to play a more disciplined game.

This is correct. JR’s always played his best when surrounded by another dominant offensive player. Coaches, understandably, are intrigued by all of his talent. But by trying to bring out other parts of his game, they end up minimizing his tremendous strengths.