Cleveland Cavaliers: 3 takeaways from Game 3 vs. Pacers
By Ryan Piers
1. J.R. Smith is hurting the Cavs
There were too many “sweet Jesus J.R. Smith, what are you thinking?” moments from Game 3 to count. Let’s break down the most significant one.
To his credit, Smith and the other four Cavs on the floor were probably expecting Darren Collison to make that second free throw with five seconds left. He shot 88 percent during the regular season, after all.
So maybe after the shot bounced off the rim, Smith just went with his gut, dribbling the ball up the floor before side-winding a 35-footer in double coverage at the buzzer. Five seconds, however, is enough time to think and there were at least three better options.
First, LeBron was posting up on Bogdanovic, primed for a potentially game-tying fadeaway. Then there was Jordan Clarkson, screaming for the ball in the corner. He was kind of flanked by Collison, but the worst-case scenario is Collison deflects the pass out of bounds and the Cavs have a second or two for an inbounds play.
Then there is an open Love. Yes, he’s closer to half court than he is the arc. Still, Love had just made a heroic fadeaway corner 3 to keep the Cavs in the game. And I’d rather have Love taking the final shot than Smith, even if it’s from 35 feet away.
Let’s not forget this awful dunk attempt at a crucial moment earlier in the game.
https://twitter.com/Frank_GGSN/status/987493598861012992
It’s a bogus shot at posterizing the 6’11 Myles Turner when a floater or kick-out would have been the safer option. It’s an embarrassingly stupid move.
In Smith’s defense, he wasn’t all bad on Friday. He plus/minus was the best on the team, and he did record four steals.
But after averaging just 8.3 points per game during the regular season while playing paltry defense, the former sharpshooter is hardly fairing better in the postseason. He’s 5-for-16 over the last two games.
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Rodney Hood looked sharp in the second half. Maybe it’s time to go with the young gun and let Smith offer encouragement from the bench.