NBA Player Power Rankings: Top 10 Players In NBA Finals

NBA Player Power Rankings: Top 10 Players In The NBA Finals

Jun 16, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) shakes hands with Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) during the fourth quarter of game six of the NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena. Warriors won 105-97. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /

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May 25, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith (5) reacts after a dunk in the first quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers in game five of the Eastern conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /

9. J.R. Smith, Cleveland Cavaliers

Position: Shooting Guard
Age: 30 (9/9/1985)
Postseason Slash Line: .455/.462/.583
Postseason Averages: 33.5 MPG, 12.0 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 1.3 APG, 1.1 SPG, 3.5 3PM

The 2013 Sixth Man of the Year may have put forth the best season of his career in 2015-16. That may seem irrational to state due to his decline in production, but for the first time in his career, Smith found something that efficiently works.

The Cleveland Cavaliers will need Smith to continue shooting the lights out during the 2016 NBA Finals.

Quietly, but surely, Smith was one of four players in the NBA to make at least 200 3-point field goals on 40.0 percent shooting or better from beyond the arc. The other four players on that list: Stephen Curry, J.J. Redick, and Klay Thompson.

Considering the fact that two of those players are in this series, it’s safe to say that Smith is going to play a defining role in how the NBA Finals play out.

At his best, Smith is an explosive athlete who can terrorize teams in transition and go off for an infinite number of 3-point field goals. At his worst, Smith will continue shooting when his shot isn’t falling and disrupt the rhythm of an offense.

This is Smith’s chance for the ultimate career retribution against everyone who doubted him.

Next: Something To Prove