Will the Real J.R. Smith Show Up in Game 6?

Five games into the NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers and we still haven’t seen the real J.R. Smith. Sure we’ve seen glimpses of him especially in the first half of Game 5. But just as soon as it seemed that J.R. had come out to show himself in the series, he quickly disappeared again.

Just like any Cavs fan, I thought Game 5 was going to be J.R.’s breakout moment. I really did.

In the first three rounds of the playoffs, Smith had been a consistent source of scoring for the now undermanned Cavs. Against the Boston Celtics, J.R. averaged 9.8 points per game. Versus the Chicago Bulls, his scoring went up to 12.8. In the conference finals, his scoring shot up to 18.0 per game.

Naturally, knowing how streaky he is and how confident he’s becoming, you’d think that Smith would be shooting the lights out in the Finals. Instead, he’s shooting a personal 2015 playoffs series low of 31% while scoring only 10.0 points per game.

Just like any Cavs fan, I thought Game 5 was going to be J.R.’s breakout moment. I really did. And for a little more than a quarter, he was cookin’ real hot, taking shots confidently and calmly swishing one three-pointer after another on his way to four bombs at the end of the first half.

In the second half, it was almost as if Smith wasn’t there at all. Steve Kerr’s wingmen made sure that J.R. would have to work for his shots to go in, not giving the mercurial shooting guard any daylight to get a good look when he took a shot. He ended the game with no points in the second half while LeBron James carried the load alone again for their team in a losing cause.

As bad as his night was, there was one thing that one good half gave Smith—confidence. Comparing the first half with the second half, J.R. didn’t feel any different.

"“For me, it was pretty much the same thing. They just started closing out more, started switching out on my sets more. So, same mindset, just didn’t get any good looks.”"

This wasn’t the same J.R. Smith whose shot looked shaky in the Game 4 blowout loss. He described his game then as “horsesh–.” Game 5, however, gave us a glimpse of what Smith can do to turn the tide of a ball game.

Yes his shooting is streaky and inconsistent. But the law of averages has to catch up to him doesn’t it? By this time, the real J.R. Smith should be confidently shooting haymakers the Warriors’ way and lifting some of the burden that his superstar teammate has been carrying all playoffs long.

June 14, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith (5) shoots against the defense of Golden State Warriors guard

Stephen Curry

(30) in the first half in game five of the NBA Finals. at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

But for the Cavs to halt that from happening, we need to see the J.R. Smith, the real one, come out firing on all cylinders, believing in himself more than he ever has for his entire career.

But he has to play well defensively, too. No more crazy fouls on a three-point shooter. No more flagrant fouls that will cost him playing in a Game 7 if he does so again. He has to shoot straight and true and play good, smart defense the way he’s been doing the past three series.

With the season on the line, Game 6 is a must-win for the Cavs as any game they had ever considered a must-win. If they lose, on their home floor no less, Golden State will be celebrating in Cleveland, something that would be a sight no one in the city wants to see.

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But for the Cavs to halt that from happening, we need to see the J.R. Smith, the real one, come out firing on all cylinders, believing in himself more than he ever has for his entire career. Not just on Tuesday but on Friday night as well. If he does so on both games and on both ends of the floor, then the Cavs could well be celebrating a championship after all.

Because the real J.R. Smith came out to play.

What do you think J.R. Smith has to do to help the Cavs win in Game 6?

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