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Cleveland Cavaliers: Pre-ASG Player Grades

By Quenton S. Albertie

Feb 18, 2017; New Orleans, LA, USA; Eastern Conference forward LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers (23) and Eastern Conference forward Kyrie Irving of the Cleveland Cavaliers (2) laugh during the NBA All-Star Practice at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 18, 2017; New Orleans, LA, USA; Eastern Conference forward LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers (23) and Eastern Conference forward Kyrie Irving of the Cleveland Cavaliers (2) laugh during the NBA All-Star Practice at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 23, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith (5) celebrates his three point basket late in the fourth quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 23, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith (5) celebrates his three point basket late in the fourth quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /

. J.R. Smith. C+. . Cleveland Cavaliers

2016-2017 season averages:

8.6 points, 1.2 assists, 2.1 rebounds, 1.2 steals per game

33.7 percent shooting on all field goals, 36.2 percent on three-point attempts

How J.R. Smith has performed prior to the All-Star break:

Quite frankly, J.R. Smith has yet to live up to the contract that he had the Cleveland Cavaliers break their back to give him. Just a season after essentially reviving his NBA career, Smith was getting blown by on the perimeter and inconsistent with his three-point shot. For sure, he has not been a distraction at any point this season besides his blunder against the Milwaukee Bucks (he walked off the court mid-play to greet Jason Terry, a Bucks player). In addition, Smith revealed that he had been dealing with a sore knee throughout the season and it is entirely plausible that it had an effect on his play, particularly defensively. With all that said, Smith’s shot will never be broken and it isn’t, as he’s still knocking down 36.2 percent of his shots in a season where he’s been off his game. If he needs to get back to the Swish form the Cleveland faithful love to see him in, the Cavs will be hard for any team to beat in the playoffs.

This has been a tough season for Smith, both on and off the court. I’d say the highlight of Smith’s season was early in the season as the Cavs defeated the Washington Wizards. Smith knocked down 5-9 threes in that contest and held Marcus Thornton scoreless from the field.