J.R. Smith: Playing in Triangle Was Mentally Tough

J.R. Smith is thrilled to be back at the Garden on Sunday to face the Knicks because he will be defending the triangle offense, not trying to play in it.

“It was tough from a mental standpoint. You start second-guessing yourself and your talent to a certain point. So many guys thrived in that triangle, and you want to put yourself in that class. Not living up to it is kind of disappointing.’’

Asked the toughest part of mastering the Derek Fisher/Jackson system, Smith gave his most detailed complaint yet.

“The toughest thing is we didn’t run enough,’’ Smith said. “With the talent we had, there was no transition offense. It was bring the ball up, run our set and go from there. Everything is a read. So I may not be reading the same thing as the next person is reading. Before you know it, you got turnovers, missed shots and bad transition defense.’’

via Marc Berman of the New York Post