NBA Finals: What Iman Shumpert Has to do to Force Game 7

Iman Shumpert is a key piece in Game 6 of the NBA Finals tonight. During the Cleveland Cavaliers opening two-playoff series’ against the Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls, I wrote an article detailing how Iman Shumpert was proving his worth for the Cavs.

I discussed how Shumpert’s wonderful defense was helping the Cavaliers shut down the likes of Isaiah Thomas, Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler and I also touched on how Shumpert’s surprising offensive output was helping Cleveland.

Unfortunately, that stellar play from Shumpert hasn’t carried into the NBA Finals and with the Cavs now on the brink of elimination, Cleveland desperately needs him to rediscover that form from the earlier rounds.

As Shumpert would say, he needs to get his “funky jazz down” if the Cavaliers have any chance to force a winner takes all Game 7 in Oakland on Friday Night. To do so, Shumpert needs to do these three things: find his shooting stroke, continue defending and regain confidence.

Start Hitting Some Shots

Earlier in the playoffs, LeBron James had this to say in regards to Shumpert’s offensive output, per Dave McMenamin of ESPN, “What we get from him as far as points is extra credit for our team.” James would go on to praise the energy and defensive impact that Shumpert brings to the court but if James was asked that question again today, it’s a safe assumption that he would be changing his answer.

Throughout these finals, Shumpert has been ICE-COLD on the offensive end. Shumpert’s averaging only 6.2 points per game during these finals, a number that must improve considering the Cavaliers are without their number two and three scoring options in Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love.

What’s even more concerning than the small scoring output though is how ineffective Shumpert has been when shooting the ball. The former Knick is only managing a 27% field goal percentage during the finals and from three-point range that percentage is a mediocre 36.4%. From the free throw line, Shumpert has been uncharacteristically horrible, shooting only 50% from the charity stripe during the series.

It’s not like Shumpert hasn’t stepped up on the offensive end for the Cavs before during these playoffs. In the Semi-Finals against the Bulls, where the Cavaliers had no Love and a hobbled Irving, Shumpert averaged more than double of his scoring output in the finals, as he put up 12.7 points for the series. Then, in the Conference Finals against the Atlanta Hawks, Shumpert was hot from three-point range, as he hit on 42.9% of his attempts from beyond the arc.

While Shumpert has been good in bursts from the Cavaliers these playoffs, his overall playoff shot chart, is well, not very pretty.

As you can see, there is a lot of blue around the three-point line, mainly from the corners but take a look at the wings, where Shumpert has been an average or even above average three-point shooter in areas.

Now, Shumpert has been fighting shoulder and finger issues during the NBA Finals, which definitely hasn’t helped in him finding his shooting stroke. These injuries are definitely making an impact in Shumpert shooting so poorly but the reality is that Cleveland desperately needs scoring help from the role players and he needs to start hitting more of his open jumpers, regardless of the pain he is feeling.

For Cleveland to force a Game 7, Shumpert must go to the areas where he feels most comfortable and start knocking in some shots. With all the attention that the Golden State Warriors are putting on James, Shumpert is going to get open looks. Now, it’s up to him to convert on them.

Continue Defending

One thing that Shumpert has done well most of the time during these playoffs is defend, which is obviously what he is known for. This defense has carried into the finals, as Shumpert has been a positive for the Cavs on the defensive end while he has been on the floor.

While Shumpert has been on the court during these finals, Cleveland has had a defensive rating of 103.4, not a great number but better than the number when Shumpert sits. 106.4 is the defensive rating that the Cavaliers have had when Shumpert isn’t on the floor these finals, a horrible number which gives them zero chance to knock off the Warriors.

As for his individual defense, Shumpert has done well. Warrior players are shooting 43.2% from the field when being defended by Shumpert, 3.6% less then their normal average. The 2.2 steals that Shumpert is coming up with per game these finals have also helped the Cavs in slowing down the high-octane Warriors.

Shumpert hasn’t been asked to guard Stephen Curry much these finals, as his job has been to shut down the other splash brother, Klay Thompson and for the most part, his done a good job of that. Let’s take a look at Thompson’s numbers during the finals:

Game 1: 21 points, 5/14 shooting.
Game 2: 34 points, 14/28 shooting.
Game 3: 14 points, 6/16 shooting.
Game 4: 9 points, 4/9 shooting.
Game 5: 12 points, 5/14 shooting.

So as you can see, Shumpert has done well shutting down Thompson, bar his incredible Game 2 performance. While his kept his numbers at a minimum, Thompson has still been able to shake off Shumpert at key moments though. Take this clutch three that Thompson hit in the last quarter of Game 5 for example.

Notice how easily Shumpert gets caught in the screen from Curry on the play. Something like this simply cannot happen in the last quarter of a close finals game. Shumpert needs to be more aggressive and smart on plays like these. Just trying to run through the screen simply isn’t going to work. Shumpert needs to use his defensive IQ and anticipate the screen is coming, therefore making him stick with Thompson and not allow himself to get caught up in the screen. When defending the spalsh brothers, trying to run through screens isn’t going to work if your a defender. Shumpert needs to stay with Thompson at all times and if a screen does come, go under or over it, not straight through it.

So while Shumpert has been very good on the defensive end for the Cavs during these finals, he needs to cut out small lapses on that end, especially when defending one of the splash brothers in clutch moments.

Regain Confidence

I’ve never seen a player in the NBA Finals so low on confidence than Shumpert is right now.

That statement may sound a bit harsh and some people may think it’s unfair but it’s true. Players work their entire careers off to get to this moment, this stage of the finals but I’ve never seen a player so mentally broken than Shumpert is right now. They say that playing in the NBA, in the biggest moments, a lot of it is mental and this is being proven true by Shumpert’s play. Unfortunately, it’s being proven in a negative way for the Cavs, as we are witnessing how poorly a player can play when he is low on confidence.

Whether it’s the pressure of playing on the biggest stage or getting used to being asked to do a lot more on the offensive end, Shumpert doesn’t seem as active and involved in the game as he usually is.

More from King James Gospel

He has passed up countless open looks and when he goes to drive the ball, he seems lost and in two minds. Shoot? Pass? Shumpert needs to stop thinking so much when he has the ball and just do what feels natural. If you’re open, shoot it with confidence. See a driving lane? Use your athleticism and take it strong to the hole. See a teammate with a better shot? Pass up your open look for a better one (Jeff Van Gundy has stated many times during these finals how much Shumpert has settled for a pull-up mid-range jumper when someone like J.R. Smith or James Jones is wide open in the corner for three.)

I’m not quite sure what is in Shumpert’s head right now and why he is so low on confidence. What I am quite sure about though is if Cleveland want to force a Game 7, Shumpert needs to believe in himself, regain some confidence and play the way everyone knows he can.

Next: 5 Standout Stats from Game 5