The Cavaliers are 64 games through the 2015-16 campaign, but still have some uncertainty moving forward. Would moving J.R. Smith to the bench be a good decision?
Most of the uncertainty rests on the shoulders of the bench. As a team, the Cavaliers second unit is averaging just 27.2 points per game, which is 29th in the association. They are netting just 3.1 of the 8.6 three pointers they take every game.
Due to the star power in the starting lineup, the Cavaliers unsatisfactory bench production hasn’t hindered the success of the team as a whole. Cleveland’s starting five is averaging 76.5 points, which is good enough for second in the league right behind the Golden State Warriors.
If the Cavaliers want to optimize their scoring in the second unit, moving Smith to the bench may be beneficial in the long run.
Smith has made strides during his second season with the wine and gold, as he has averaged 12.6 points on 41 percent from the field and 40 percent from three point territory. He also ranks ninth in the league in three pointers made this season with 158.
The impressive play from Smith has caught the attention of teammate LeBron James, who said Smith has become an emotional leader for the team.
“We have emotional leaders, for sure.” James said, via Cavs.com. “I’m one of them and J.R. is one of them as well, who hangs his emotions on his jersey, on his shoulders and on his chest a lot.”
Coming off the bench wouldn’t be new for Smith. During the 2011-12 season with the New York Knicks, Smith averaged 18.1 points in 80 games off the bench en route to being crowned sixth man of the year.
During the Cavaliers finals run last year, Smith was replaced in the starting lineup by Iman Shumpert. Smith found some success coming off the bench in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Atlanta Hawks, where he averaged 18 points on 50 percent from the field.
Moving Smith to the second unit would put him alongside newly-acquired Channing Frye. Although Frye hasn’t been incorporated into the rotation- averaging just 13.5 minutes in the last eight games- he did have a nice outing against the Los Angeles Lakers where he put up 21 points and seven rebounds in his first start as a Cavalier.
With Smith and Frye available to space the floor, it would give the offense better looks and ultimately lead to more points from the bench.
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Moving Smith to the bench would result in Shumpert being inserted into the starting lineup. Although his scoring numbers are down from last season and he is shooting a 37 percent clip on the season, Shump would provide a greater defensive presence to the Cavaliers starting lineup.
Smith has definitely stepped up his defensive intensity this season, but has yet to outdo the defensive specialist in Shumpert.
At the end of the day, it is all about winning a championship, and with the current state of the Cavaliers second unit, that doesn’t seem to be in the foreseeable future; however, if head coach Tyronn Lue decides to utilize Smith’s talent off of the bench, it could give the Cavs a chance to bring home that championship trophy.
Should the Cavaliers continue rolling with their current lineup or should that see what kind of damage could be done with J.R. Smith coming off the bench?
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