NEW YORK _ It was just over two weeks ago when Dennis Smith Jr. missed his sixth straight game for the Dallas Mavericks, the team listing various ailments as the reason, but neither side hiding the reality that he had separated himself from the team for two weeks to try to force his way out of Dallas.
All of which makes it hard to imagine that Smith arrived in New York to make his debut Sunday afternoon in the starting lineup and by Tuesday night, with one practice under his belt, was being described this way by David Fizdale, his new coach.
"He took total command of the team tonight," Fizdale said after Smith put up 25 points, six assists and five rebounds in 39 minutes and 46 seconds _ the most minutes he's played in a game this season. "It was really fun to watch. I didn't have to call every play. He was really directing traffic out there while staying aggressive for himself. I think the more he gets comfortable with his teammates and they understand who he is, the better and better he's going to get."
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