JR Smith

[hud11]

Jr should had 25+ shots tonight, I blame Delly, I appreciate his aggressiveness but you gotta get the guys who can score the ball. Blatt also sat smith too long after he got 4 fouls.

 

[jlegg21]

Jr should had 25+ shots tonight, I blame Delly, I appreciate his aggressiveness but you gotta get the guys who can score the ball. Blatt also sat smith too long after he got 4 fouls.

Would have like to have seen more of the "NY backcourt" as AC called it, with Shump at the 1 and Smith at the 2, being that they should be used to playing with each other.

Oh well...

 

[CavsHomer]

Smith got a total amount of 2(!!!) minutes rest during the game today (minutes played: 51).

 

[Willard513]

I actually thought he played well, his shots weren't falling but he stayed aggressive and had a great late game turnover

 

[Adam]

I thought this was the kind of game that we need him to be a bit cocky and aggressive, I was surprised he played so under control, maybe his shot wasn't feeling good or maybe he had a defensive focus but wi though kyrie we needed another perimeter player to be aggressive

 

[Jscc]

His shots weren't falling but he showed heart and didn't give up. Was the only starter with a positive +/- and played the most minutes.. 50.

 

[macbdog]

He had a steal that helped send the game to OT. Not his fault the team's leader turned into Deandre Jordan at the foul line at the end.

 

[All4One1ForAll]

It sucks that usually JR's and Shump's shots are both off in the same game (but then both on in certain games, too).

 

[KilgoreTrout]

I [heart] JR. He reminds me of The Greatest American Hero. Sometimes, he really IS a superhero, but he can't control it, because he lost the instructions to the suit. So you never know when he is going to have super-powers, and when he will be a mere mortal. But he's always trying to save the world.

 

[MirORich]

I [heart] JR. He reminds me of The Greatest American Hero. Sometimes, he really IS a superhero, but he can't control it, because he lost the instructions to the suit. So you never know when he is going to have super-powers, and when he will be a mere mortal. But he's always trying to save the world.

So many times I spend hours wondering what really goes on in the mind and imagination of JR Smith. He could be a superhero on this planet. But for all we know he's a superhero in some parallel universe who just spends five hours a night here in ours playing basketball and talking quietly through his post game interviews

 

[gratefuldead]

shootin 3s, checkin the pipe

yup, still there

 

[Kypus]

Now that Love is shooting/moving around better, and Shumpert is starting to defend like the ballhawk we know he can be- the time has come to admit the bench needs JR Smith's scoring a lot more than the starting unit does. We all know the current setup has been successful- and no one wants to mess anything while we're winning. But the fact is we can be an even better team. Shumpert's shooting has steadily gotten better, but it is not a threat in the 2nd unit. (it's just gravy when he gets it to fall- doesn't impact the game)

JR's skillset plays individually to our bench players strengths: (Delly/JR/LBJ/Jones->Marion/Tristan)
- Delly would have an immediate pressure valve to pass to, relieving how much teams can pressure the ball. JR has a quick release and gets in position at or 2 steps inside the 3pt line. This would also allow Delly to get his "shove shot" working as a surprise move, rather than relying on it 4-5x a game.
-Tristan's O-board ability would work awesomely with this setup, plus he can do garbage cleanup/putbacks. Less defensive attention on Tristan= better success for him. This would be with JR's dangerous shooting- not Shump's mediocre jumpshot.
- Marion- would work better as another facilitator with JR as a primary scorer. Was 3rd fiddle in one of the greatest offenses ever with Nash/Amare. People forget that even playing out of position he shot over 47% for us the 1st month here in an unfamiliar system. Even with that awesome jump shot of his Marion's health is the catalyst for this team.
-James Jones is basically a placeholder until/if Marion comes back. Until then he's just another pressure valve, which works if LBJ is the 5th guy.
- Lebron- obviously we could mix this up but we'll just say Lebron for now.

Now, the question of how Blatt can pull this off w/o damaging egos. Coaches will make multiple switches to their lineup (usually 2 starters to the bench & vice versa) to avoid singling out one guy. The possibility of Marion coming back is this opportunity. Putting Marion back in for Jones is the perfect time for Blatt to ask JR to be our bench savior- plus he'll get to play with Lebron to do it.

Jones <==> Marion
JRSmith<==> Shumpert

Blatt is apparently a master of treating his guys with respect, and being an advocate for their success. He can either take the Marion opportunity, if his health works out, or implement it after going down in a playoff series.

IT. JUST. WORKS.

 

[Benedict_Boozer]

The thing about JR is his defense has actually been quite good. The whole point of starting Shump was that presumably he was the superior wing defender, and he is, but JR has actually been hustling his ass off on defense and his length/athleticism has been nothing to sneeze at.

Also I think you could make a case that part of the reason JR is playing such disciplined ball, is exactly because he is out there with LBJ/Kyrie/Love. If you give him free reign off the bench that could get him back into bad habits.

 

[Kypus]

Yeah, I know JR freelancing has been a legit concern in the past, but I think with LBJ playing with the bench and a disciplined vet in Marion- Blatt wouldn't have to give him a long leash.

Yes, JR's overall defense has been very good- but Shump's is better, and will continue to improve. Shump not only plays passing lanes, but is a more physical on-ball defender, which JR is not. He can be absolutely disruptive to the other team from the get-go, if we get him in with the starters. I'm all for jumping out to a 12 point lead in the 1st just because we CAN. His timing is getting better week by week- late in the DAL game, you could see him honing his...what does he call it, "I play offense on defense". Can you imagine what that would've done to the Hawks?

It just makes too much sense for both units, because it not only plays to their own strengths- it makes everyone around them better. I wrote above how JR makes the bench better- I didn't even get into how Shump would relieve defensive pressure on the starters. Shump and LBJ on the other team's 2 best starters- that would take us to a whole another level, plus free up Kyrie even more.

 

[Mdog1]

When we traded for him, I was freaked out about him starting. My fears have long since passed. JR has shown the power good veterans, and winning basketball can have on a player.

The really surprising thing is that JR has been playing basketball the right way. He isn't chucking, he is playing defense with good energy, and is passing the ball well. I say leave him as a starter.

In the playoffs, there won't be many times where we are playing without at least one of the stars on the floor.