How starting Iman Shumpert could move the needle for the Cavs

Starting Iman Shumpert over J.R. Smith could cause a domino effect. One that falls the right way for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, following Game 2 of the 2017 NBA Finals the Cleveland Cavaliers began mulling a move that would see Iman Shumpert starting at shooting guard in Game 3. Shumpert started 31 games for the Cavs during the regular season while J.R. Smith was out with a fractured thumb.

In the Finals, Smith has been struggling. While Smith’s being urged to launch threes (he’s 1-4 from three-point range in 42 minutes of playing time in the Finals), he’s also being tasked with guarding Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant (the Warriors are shooting 90.9 percent from the field when Smith is the primary defender). That’s a lot of responsibility on both ends and as a result he’s not in the best position to affect the game positively.

Shumpert, who played well against Durant in Game 2 (the Warriors are shooting 33.3 percent from the field when Shumpert is the primary defender), takes that responsibility away from both Smith and LeBron James (the Warriors have been shooting 51.6 percent from the field when James is the primary defender). Offensively, that allows James to exert more energy to attack the rim on the offensive end and draw fouls that will allow them to control the pace of the game while giving Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr some tough decisions to make if any particular player gets in early foul trouble.

The drop-off between the Warriors’ Big 4 and their bench counterparts is exponential and getting one of the Big 4 in early foul trouble could bode well for the Cavs on both ends.

Shumpert can also defend Curry while Irving conserves a bit of energy by guarding Thompson. While defending Curry, Irving has to both worry about keeping up with the super-quick Curry on screens and trying to prevent Curry from breaking him down off-the-dribble. In defending Thompson, he just has to stick with him on screens and make sure that Thompson doesn’t get any second chance points, which is easier said than done but easier than guarding Curry period.

With Shumpert’s ability to guard both Curry and Durant, and do it well, the Cavs’ two best isolation players will have more energy and more of an early offensive impact moving forward. If Kevin Love can keep up his level of play from Game 2, then the Cavs’ Big Three can finally start rolling as a whole.

Offensively, Shumpert will take easier shots than Smith would, who often makes his three-point attempts more difficult than they have to be.

More from King James Gospel

• 3 possible starting lineups for Cleveland Cavaliers in 2023-24
• The Cavaliers may have snagged a hidden gem in Craig Porter Jr.
• 4 players the Cavaliers should pursue in 2024 free agency
• 6 players Cavaliers might replace Jarrett Allen with by the trade deadline
• This stat is one to keep an eye on for Cavaliers’ Max Strus in years ahead

The Cavs can bring Smith in as the first sub as they sit a big man and likely will have a lineup of Kyrie Irving, Shumpert, Smith, James and Kevin Love heading into the end of the first quarter. While bookended by Irving and Love, who can impressive team defenders at times, the Cavs will put an athletic trio of Shumpert, Smith and James in the game and they should do well in guarding Curry, Thompson and Durant.

Defensively, the simplicity that exists with Shumpert guarding James’ man, Irving and Smith guarding the Warriors’ backcourt and giving Draymond Green space to shoot will allow the Cavs to make James a roaming player in the lane that can defend the rim, attack passing lanes and contest what could become open jump shots.

That could cause a lot of pass deflections and not only turnovers for the Warriors but fast-break points for the Cavs, miniature four-point swings.

Offensively, the space will allow Irving, James and Love to have a lot of one-on-one battles and players who can knock down shots or swing the ball around when they collapse the defense.

When the Cavs decide to sit the Big Three and Shumpert, Deron Williams, Kyle Korver and Richard Jefferson could play alongside Smith in the second, who’s more capable of a ball-handler in the second unit than Shumpert and alleviates some pressure from Williams to create off-the-dribble. The space in this small-ball unit will give Williams and Smith space to attack off-the-dribble and if Channing Frye plays with this unit rather than Tristan Thompson, the Cavs could finally have a second unit that’s potent offensively.

With JaVale McGee in the second unit, the Cavs could opt to space the floor with McGee to keep him out of the paint although the Cavs would also be wise to involve him in pick-and-rolls with Williams and Thompson if they can.

[Editor’s note: switch Williams with Irving, Jefferson with James and Love with Frye or Thompson and the same rules apply]

The biggest positives from Game 2 were that Love was dominant in the paint, James drew a lot of fouls when he attacked the rim and it kept the Cavs in the game and by getting their bodies in passing lanes and causing deflections, they were able to get out in transition after hustling to the loose balls.

If the Cavs do those things throughout the game while playing better defense on Durant and having players on the bench knock down shots so that James can get a breather every now and then, they have a great shot at pulling out Game 2.

Reasons for optimism?

The Golden State Warriors are going to make some great plays on both ends but the Cavs can’t get discouraged, they have to stay the course.

They’re a lot closer to winning these games than some may believe. In Game 1, the Cavs would have only been down 5 at halftime had Durant not hit a three at the buzzer.

So long as they continue to attack on both ends like they did in Game 2, Shumpert starting over Smith may be the move that moves the needle for the Cavs moving forward.

Related Story: Derrick Williams deserves playing time

Do you think that Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith coming off-the-bench will help the Cavs? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section or Twitter @KJG_NBA.