Does J.R. Smith miss being a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ starting lineup?
Kind of. Maybe. Sort of.
Okay, not really.
Asked about head coach Tyronn Lue’s decision to move him back to the pine after an extended stay in the opening five, Smith didn’t hesitate to acknowledge he’s comfortable in his current role, per Cleveland.com’s Joe Vardon:
“This is probably the most comfortable role I’ve fit in since my career started in the NBA,” said Smith, who is in his 14th NBA season. “Majority of my career I’ve been a sixth-man type of guy and coming off the bench, so it’s easier to revert back.
“The best part is we get out and run,” Smith said. “When you get out and run with the first unit, they want to slow it down, get Bron to get the other guys open, stuff like that, so it’s just fun.”
Smith certainly looks more at home coming off the bench. In the time since Lue made the switch, the shooting guard isn’t scoring a ton (8.0 points per game), but he’s shooting 48.6 percent from beyond the arc and not registering as a massive defensive liability. For all the oddball decisions Lue has made—remaining enamored with Jeff Green, for instance—this alteration appears to be the correct one.
It makes sense on paper. Either Kyle Korver or Rodney Hood is arguably a better fit for the starting five. Korver is historically the more reliable shooter, making him a must-have beside LeBron James, while Hood, at full strength, adds a layer of potential shot creation Cleveland also needs to offset its four-time MVP’s offensive workload in the half-court. Korver appears to be the choice for now, but whichever route the Cavs opt to travel, Smith serves them best as a member of the second unit.
