LeBron James' MVP case grows each game he misses
- Thread starter IllmaticDelta
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IllmaticDelta
Veteran
stop it. Tristan controls the paint with his hustle and rebounding(part of defense) and he alters some shots
. Shump is the epitome of a 3 and D guy and he's stroking the three @ .407 clip on 3 tries per game this season
Kyrie my dude but he is not a leader at all. This team better hope and pray LeBron doesn't have some season ending injury...
@Malta you usually have this statistics on the go, is Tristan top 15 at controlling the paint(rim protection statistics I guess).
Also Shump makes 1.3 threes a game, the 40% clip doesn't mean much when you're only offering one three a game for your team.
IllmaticDelta
Veteran
that's what 3 and d guys are suppose to do. Hit a solid % from 3 and play top notch defense
that's what 3 and d guys are suppose to do. Hit a solid % from 3 and play top notch defense
I said this Sunday and I'll say it again...
Shump's three point percentage is unbelievably misleading. In 29 games he's only taken 91 threes. That's not a lot for a guy you claim is a 3 and D guy.
that's what 3 and d guys are suppose to do. Hit a solid % from 3 and play top notch defense
Trevor Ariza is a 3 and D guy out there to help Harden's defense shortcomings while providing threes. He shoots at a 38% clip but makes 2.7 a game. That is more impactful than Shump making half that amount while shooting 40%.
If your 3 and D guy is only making 1.3 a game then that isnt making a huge impact. Shump's offensive game is hardly respected either so teams often leave him to help on other guys.
UpAndComing
Veteran
He's better than Jordan, but nah
IllmaticDelta
Veteran
it's all they need from the bench position
cavs "trevor ariza" is jr smith and he happens to be the cavs other 3 and D guy
shump does from the bench position and jr does is from the starting position, when you combine that tandem together, that's major production
Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith has grown into the team's "best defensive player this year," according to head coach Tyronn Lue. (Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com)
All Stories
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- J.R. Smith arrived in Cleveland with a reputation.
His on-court behavior was as colorful as the tattoos that cover his body, something that electrified crowds, but also agitated his employers as much as the opponent.
A well-known knucklehead, Smith was unpredictable, capable of catching fire from beyond the arc but just as apt to burn his own team with his free spirit, maddening shot selection and a knack for losing his cool in pressure moments -- getting in fights, throwing elbows and untying opponent's shoes.
"Just a scorer," Tyronn Lue told cleveland.com when asked Wednesday how he viewed Smith as an opposing coach. "A guy who could get hot at any time and then put points on the board. Could go for 20-25 points in a quarter. That's the reputation guys get -- Ben Gordon, Jamal Crawford -- guys that can score the basketball."
That one trait -- the scorer -- was what the Cavs were hoping to obtain in January 2015, minus the irritating ones. Instead, they've gotten much more.
After a frustrating start to the 2014-15 season, staring at an underachieving and imperfect roster, General Manager David Griffin could no longer ignore the flaws. The Cavs needed more athleticism on the wing and more shooting around LeBron James.
With James' backing, the Cavs made the risky deal, addressing both weaknesses in one move by acquiring defensive-minded Iman Shumpert and the explosive Smith, who had been "exhibiting delinquent behavior," according to Phil Jackson.
"I knew what J.R. was capable of. I was absolutely excited," James said recently, as he reflected on the trade. "I understand that he was ready to make a change in not only his personal goals, but to help a team. We've always preached defense, I'm a huge defensive guy, so it's great to have someone that kind of wants to be a part of that and just took that responsibility."
That part of the deal with Smith was unexpected. That wasn't his reputation.
"I never even looked at it that way," Lue said when asked if he saw Smith becoming a defensive-minded player. "When you see a player, you just know he's dangerous at scoring the basketball. Never looked at it the other way. It's a credit to him, the things he's done. He's taking on that challenge every single night of guarding the best player."
Lue believes the evolution started last year, as Smith went from lottery-bound team to championship contender, when one phone call changed his attitude and NBA fortunes.
"It wasn't easy, trust me, it wasn't easy coming in here thinking I'm not going to shoot the ball because we got these three guys or four guys," Smith said of his role. "I looked at it as I really have to mature and grow up. If it's really all about winning, play defense. Regardless of if it's point guard, smalls, shooters, drivers, whatever the case may be, I got to [take] that guy.
"Like I said, it wasn't easy. Sometimes it's hard running up and down the court for five minutes without touching the ball, but knowing that your impact is on the defensive end and our team keeps running."
Smith came straight out of high school and played with New Orleans before finding his NBA footing in Denver alongside Carmelo Anthony. But the Nuggets weren't known for defense. They played fast, charging up and down the court and bombing 3-pointers at will.
Early in his career, Smith admits that guys were in his ear, telling him to "get his numbers in order to get paid."
"When I was in Denver, New York, I was never that guy to have to try to guard the Kobes, Tracy McGradys, DeRozans or whatever," Smith said. "It was more of a scoring opportunity. In this situation, I have those opportunities, I look at them as a challenge. Fortunately the majority of the time we have the better team, but for the most part just taking on the challenge."
The challenge started last year from the coaching staff. They saw his athleticism, lateral quickness, agility and an understanding of how to get around screens, something that comes from his early offensive prowess.
The coaches kept challenging him. But even as Smith improved, Shumpert was getting the bulk of the recognition for drawing the toughest perimeter assignment.
When Shumpert missed the first 21 games of this season to recover from right wrist surgery, someone needed to step into that role. The Cavs didn't want to overwork James, who was already carrying a bulk of the scoring load in Kyrie Irving's absence.
That's when Smith stepped forward.
"Whether it's (DeMar) DeRozan, D-Wade or whoever else, whoever is their hot guy, I look at it as my job to try and cool them down or slow them down," Smith said. "Whatever needs to be done for us to get the win."
Shortly after David Blatt was fired, Lue held a meeting with the team. The Cavs were in Detroit, playing their first road game of the Lue era. That's when, in front of everyone, Lue talked to players about their roles, pointing to each one individually and told them what he expected.
"It's finally come around," Lue told me.
Each player received a verbal directive. Surprisingly, Smith's wasn't about shot selection. It centered on defense.
"Be a great defender every single night even though he can take any shot he wants," Lue recalled saying. "He can catch fire, he makes tough, difficult shots and they call him 911 on the team, emergency shot guy. I mean, he's taken that (defensive) challenge and I'm happy and proud of him."
In the conference semifinals, Smith averaged 11.0 points and made 50 percent of his 3s, knocking down 14 in the four-game sweep, out of the 77 made by the team.
But it was Smith's defensive effort that earned praise. Smith was told to stay with Atlanta's 3-point ace Kyle Korver no matter what, removing an explosive part of the Hawks' attack. Smith compared his work as worthy of Deion Sanders (Smith is a Cowboys fan, after all) -- and Korver was a non-factor.
Korver shot 43 percent from the field, but averaged just 7.5 points. He never really got open -- getting a little less than six shots a game.
"He'll tell me in a heartbeat, 'Your shots are coming. Your shots are coming,"' Smith said of Lue's message. "Being a scorer my whole life, it's hard because I'm really playing without the ball and playing on the other side. He's been consistently in my ear every timeout, every time down the floor. 'Don't lose him, stay with him, stay with him, just keep flowing, let the game come to you.' Fortunately, he's been like that since he got the head job."
The evolution of J.R. Smith: From New York castoff and emergency shotmaker to Cleveland Cavaliers 'best defensive player'
Beckoning another nikka for help. Might as well call him daddy
Broad Street Bully
Sick & Tide Sixers/Phillies/Cowboys fan smh
I guess LeBron threads are for the circle jerk crew only huh? Stand in a big ass circle and kiss this dude ass every thread?
Right. But that doesn't make him a 3 and D guy. He's a valuable guy off the bench (I don't think so but
)
IllmaticDelta
Veteran
Right. But that doesn't make him a 3 and D guy. He's a valuable guy off the bench (I don't think so but
dog, he's still a 3 and d guy no matter if he's starting or coming of the bench. Remember the Cavs originally made that trade for Shump and JR with Shump serving as the main grab to play that 3 and D role. Jr was the afterthought and only started because Shump was injured.
Scottie stayed putting the Knicks on posters. Shame that call cost them. Would've been nice to see how far they could go.
Yea Its a shame cuz Pip is criminally underrated....That team went 55-27 and that roster was trash utter garbage....2nd and 3rd option was Horace Grant and BJ Armstrong
Pippen led THAT crap to 55 wins and should have been in the finals...
WOAT haircut,underrated player.