J.R. Smith is incredible, maybe the most impressive dunker in the NBA. Iman Shumpert has made more than a slight impression with his energy and athleticism off the bench during his rookie season with the New York Knicks. In the 101-79 win over the Detriot Pistons, the two combined for one of the most impressive Alley-Oop dunks of the season.

The double Alley-Oop it’s called, as Smith stripped the ball away from a defender, found Shumpert in the paint, who passed back to Smith, in mid-air, as J.R. Smith, who began the season playing basketball in China, was already there to finish what he started.

Image: Source

In terms of the general team, there’s no doubt the Knicks are in a good place right now. Winning six of their last seven games, it can’t be only attributed to another soft spot in their schedule. The Knicks have won five of those wins in double digits, allowing teams to score over 90 points only twice. Is this the reincarnation of Pat Riley’s Knicks from the 1990’s, one of the best defensive team in the league during that period?

Unlikely, but there’s no doubt the effort that wasn’t there during D’Antoni’s period is here. Is it here to stay? I’m not sure, but I guess we’ll find out when the schedule gets rougher again. In their 101-79 win over the Pistons Smith finished with 14 points off the bench, averaging 10 points a game since making his return to the NBA. Amare Stoudemire, with 17 points and 8 rebounds, led five Knicks in double figures.