Cleveland Cavaliers: 5 takeaways from Game 4 in 2017 NBA Finals

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Jun 9, 2017; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard JR Smith (5) handles the ball against Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) in game four of the Finals for the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Role players’ game must transfer back to Oracle

Tristan Thompson isn’t the only role player whose breakout Game 4 needs to transfer back to Oracle Arena for Game 5.

J.R. Smith actually came to life in Game 3, dropping 16 points on 5-of-10 shooting from three-point range. He was just as important in Game 4, finishing his night with 15 points on 5-of-9 shooting from deep. In Games 1 and 2, he put up a combined three points on 1-of-6 shooting overall.

An engaged J.R. is a player who can make Cleveland’s offense dangerous, even up against the league’s stingiest playoff defense. For the Cavs to have any sort of chance on the road, they need Smith to bring his resurgent three-point strike into a building where he’s mightily struggled.

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His defense improved with the change of scenery to Quicken Loans Arena, but the defensive end wasn’t what won the Cavs Game 4; after all, they still gave up 116 points.

When the Cavaliers have their full offensive arsenal locked in, however, they’re dangerous for any opponent. Richard Jefferson added eight points off the bench. Kyle Korver knocked down a triple. Iman Shumpert was 1-for-1. Hell, even Deron Williams scored his first points of the Finals.

The Cavs’ bench has been outscored in every single game of this series, including Game 4 (32-23). But most of Golden State’s bench points came in garbage time, and if the role players can somehow transfer their newfound confidence back to a hostile environment, this series could get interesting.

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