JR Smith

[Green Lantern]

The pressure may be in his head..
One thing any coach tells you, when you're in a slump do other things.
Drive to the rim , take a shorter shot ,knock those down, the longer one will come back.
He's in a serious funk but he's got to score to get his confidence back.
Blatt may need to start him .

 

[Splitz]

I think it's an interesting thought if we could start JR and bring Shumpert off the bench. JR seems to be struggling to engage into the game and may be stuck in his head. I think as a starter it would jump start him into his roll better.

THIS! Let's do what the Warriors did and sub some offense for defense and it's not like JR has been a slouch defensively. We need to get this guy going early. If he gets hot, it's damn near impossible to beat us. I would like to see this modification made to the roster for Game 5.

 

[Gus Zing]

THIS! Let's do what the Warriors did and sub some offense for defense and it's not like JR has been a slouch defensively. We need to get this guy going early. If he gets hot, it's damn near impossible to beat us. I would like to see this modification made to the roster for Game 5.

LeBron is tired, but at least more engaged during the start of the game. Thats the perfect time to bring in JR. Shump's defense has been tremendous on Klay, but we have to figure out a way to jump start JR.

 

[Flight479]

THIS! Let's do what the Warriors did and sub some offense for defense and it's not like JR has been a slouch defensively. We need to get this guy going early. If he gets hot, it's damn near impossible to beat us. I would like to see this modification made to the roster for Game 5.

J.R has absolutely been a slouch on defense. This is not the regular season or Round 1-3 J.R. He has easily been our worst defender with bonehead fouls, forgetting Klay and lack of effort. Hearing J.R talk about thinking too much and seeing his head hang low is telling. Honesty I fear every time he enters the game because the intensity the starters have set is erased with him in there. The guy right now is allowing his struggles from O effect his defense. Has happened all series. He doesn't deserve to start!

 

[K1rieIrving>AllOtherPG's]

J.R has absolutely been a slouch on defense. This is not the regular season or Round 1-3 J.R. He has easily been our worst defender with bonehead fouls, forgetting Klay and lack of effort. Hearing J.R talk about thinking too much and seeing his head hang low is telling. Honesty I fear every time he enters the game because the intensity the starters have set is erased with him in there. The guy right now is allowing his struggles from O effect his defense. Has happened all series. He doesn't deserve to start!

you got it all wrong imo, its not the regular season "who deserves to start" mean's nothing right now, its about what's best for the team - and what's best for the team is getting J.R Going and involved we gotta give him confidence, if that means starting him than you start him, we need his crazy shooting so much right now.

 

[fujikuro]

J.R has absolutely been a slouch on defense. This is not the regular season or Round 1-3 J.R. He has easily been our worst defender with bonehead fouls, forgetting Klay and lack of effort. Hearing J.R talk about thinking too much and seeing his head hang low is telling. Honesty I fear every time he enters the game because the intensity the starters have set is erased with him in there. The guy right now is allowing his struggles from O effect his defense. Has happened all series. He doesn't deserve to start!

Deserve or not, if starting him gets his head right then you do it.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

Whether or not he "deserves" to start isn't the question. Fact is that we need him to play better if we're going to have a chance, and he's very clearly in mental funk.

The odds of him snapping out of it if nothing changes are not good. Starting him may give him a better shot at being in the flow of the game.

It's not something I would have thought of, but what's the downside? He couldn't play much worse, and if it doesn't work, you haven't really lost anything because you can just make him the first sub out.

 

[Flight479]

you got it all wrong imo, its not the regular season "who deserves to start" mean's nothing right now, its about what's best for the team - and what's best for the team is getting J.R Going and involved we gotta give him confidence, if that means starting him than you start him, we need his crazy shooting so much right now.

How much was Klay held to? He never got a rythym with Shump on him. We practically eliminated him. J.R will not show the same effort. We cannot allow Klay to become a huge factor. How many times even yesterday did we dodge a bullet from Klay missing with J.R on him. I remember specifically an in and out. Its not his offense, its his defense I don't trust.

 

[LeBro]

Sometimes shots don't fall. He did play hard, and that's all you can ask.

I feel like his shot is out of wack. It's totally possibly this is just selective confirmation bias, but his shots don't see particularly close right now. It's one thing to have bad luck, it's another to just be in a slump.

 

[Flight479]

Whether or not he "deserves" to start isn't the question. Fact is that we need him to play better if we're going to have a chance, and he's very clearly in mental funk.

The odds of him snapping out of it if nothing changes are not good. Starting him may give him a better shot at being in the flow of the game.

It's not something I would have thought of, but what's the downside? He couldn't play much worse, and if it doesn't work, you haven't really lost anything because you can just make him the first sub out.

The downside is defense. J.R has left a lot to be desired on that end. What happens to Shump if placed on the bench? Does his confidence fall a part? I think he's mentally stronger than J.R but we can't lose his effort and play either. J.R needs to make a difference off the bench for us. We need his scoring from THERE. Can't expect Shump to do that.

 

[Kyrieville]

THIS! Let's do what the Warriors did and sub some offense for defense and it's not like JR has been a slouch defensively. We need to get this guy going early. If he gets hot, it's damn near impossible to beat us. I would like to see this modification made to the roster for Game 5.

Agreed. JR was consistent all season and in the first round. His inconsistencies from 3 started when he came back from suspension, and went to the bench. He had his moments coming off of the bench, but there is no denying he has been way more inconsistent and out of focus. Put him back in the starting lineup. Even if it means bringing Mozgov or Tristan off of the bench to start the game.

 

[Frank Reynolds]

Agreed. JR was consistent all season and in the first round. His inconsistencies from 3 started when he came back from suspension, and went to the bench. He had his moments coming off of the bench, but there is no denying he has been way more inconsistent and out of focus. Put him back in the starting lineup. Even if it means bringing Mozgov or Tristan off of the bench to start the game.

That's an interesting observation and suggestion. I really think we'd be better off separating Tristan and Mozgov anyways. They aren't an ideal pairing together, and having two out there at once hurts you, it doesn't provide any additional oomph.

For depth purposes too, keep one big in the game at all times. Two at once just makes it clogged, and as you can see Bron is already flustered driving to the cup.

 

[All4One1ForAll]

DO SOMETHING!

JR is playing like total shit! On offense and on defense. Can you just give me ONE 5+ three pointer game, JR?

 

[Green Lantern]

Smith said something about there's a lot of things going on..unless someone in his family is dying(I don't want to sound cold hearted) get it out of yo head and ball.

 

[Urban]

Before this game, JR had been underperforming but I wouldn't say he was playing bad. Averaging 11 & 4 while shooting 35% from 3 and playing decent enough defense. That's about what I'd expect from JR- unfortunately he's been forced into the role of our #2 scorer.

Obviously his Game 4 + dumb fouls in Game 2 are overshadowing that.


Going against all that, a lot of people seem to admire that fact that he's been honest about his performance. That's all good and all but his body language when talking about it is all wrong. He seems to be lacking the confidence that makes him the good shooter that he is. That's what concerns me most about JR right now.