The Cleveland Cavaliers have been slipping this month and streaky guard J.R. Smith is struggling to take flight as he’s getting his game legs back.
J.R. Smith has never been a model of consistency in his career, which is why he was often rumored on the trade block. The Cleveland Cavaliers acquired him in a midseason trade from the New York Knicks back in 2015, to contextualize.
That said, it’s been a great marriage so far between Smith and the Cavs. He’s been an part of their two NBA Finals runs during the last two postseasons, on both ends.
It’s amazing how much more committed guys are when they play with LeBron James.
However, “Swish” has been anything but his nickname this season. In an injury-riddled 2016-2017 campaign, Smith is averaging the second-lowest scoring total of his career (8.2 points per game). This is his lowest output since his second year in the league, back in 2005-2006 with the then New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets (7.7 points per game).
This is evidenced by him shooting an abysmal 32.9 percent from the field, a career-low, and only 34.4 percent from three (his lowest as a Cav). I’m not overreacting to this though, as Smith has only appeared in 24 games this year for the Cavs, mostly because of a nagging thumb injury on his shooting hand.
However, he’s getting healthier now and I’m confident that Swish can get his shooting touch back for what will hopefully be a repeat championship run for the Cavs. All shooters go through slumps (even Stephen Curry) and the Cavs have plenty of scoring around to help J.R. along in this rough patch. Kyle Korver is playing out of his mind in The Land (shooting 48.7 percent from three), so if J.R. can get in the party, it’ll turn most of these head-scratchers into W’s very quickly.
My reason for optimism?
J.R. is a guy who loves to shoot the ball when the lights are brightest, as he tore it up in last year’s postseason. Smith shot 43.0 percent from deep, as opposed to 40.0 in the 2015-16 regular season and his offensive rating of 125 was the best of his playoff career. That’s by a longshot.
His playoff performance also accounted for a +17 net rating. He also had a +6 net rating in the 2015 playoffs, which proves that he’s performed when it matters in Cleveland.
If he can shoot anywhere near his 61.3 true shooting percentage in last year’s playoffs this go-round, the Cavs will be very difficult to match up with offensively. When Smith is hitting threes, the whole rest of the team seems to play at a different level (ask the Atlanta Hawks).
He can be a difference-maker on both ends of the floor, as he has become a very solid two-way contributor against formidable perimeter opponents. That was key in last year’s Finals comeback.
I’m not saying Smith is playing at his best, or will, but I don’t think he’ll be this bad when it matters most. He’s hit a rough patch this season and that happens.
In the playoffs, he’ll be much closer to fully healthy and that makes the Cavs much more versatile in their offensive and defensive personnel groupings.
It takes time for new lineups to gel; let’s be more pragmatic in our criticisms of Smith and other members of the Cavs in this grueling month before games actually matter.
Maybe I’ll get another J.R. shirt, too.
Next: Cavs Set NBA Threes Record
How do you expect J.R. Smith to perform in the playoffs? Let us know your in the comments section or Twitter @KJG_NBA.