After a rough stretch, J.R. Smith has finally found his way back, and it has helped the Cleveland Cavaliers reign in the East again.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are at times a two dimension team. They have Kyrie and LeBron who both get theirs, and they lack that third scorer if Kevin Love isn’t playing well. That third scorer could and should be J.R. Smith.
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This has been one of the roughest seasons of Smith’s career. With a crippling hand injury midseason and the birth of his daughter, Smith has had a hell of a year off of the court, but his on court performance has been uncharacteristic of Smith also. While trying to get back into the swing of things, he’s missed normally automatic threes and often times just looked out of place both offensively and defensively.
In his last 9 games, the front five games saw Smith scored a total of 25 points. Smith has since then scored double figures in his last four games. Totaling 63 points, Smith’s re-found abilities have helped the Cavs claw their way back into the top place in the East.
In last nights game against the Boston Celtics, Smith posted a beautiful +19 while going just 2-for-7 from three. While the shooting is not desirable, Smith proved that he can be an engaged and beneficial player even without his shot falling.
The big-shot reputation that Smith has built up causes team to guard further out and to play more stiff defense. This frees up LeBron James, who went off for 36 points last night.
Over his last five games, while on the court, Smith has the team’s third highest net rating and trails only King James and Kyle Korver, who has only appeared in two of those games including one blowout victory. Smith has the team’s second best +/- over the last five games and continues to look like his old self.
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This should be a great siting for the Cleveland Cavaliers, J.R. Smith, and the fans all around. This team just pummeled the Celtics, and it looks like they are the rulers of the East again.