Shooting guard J.R. Smith has stepped his game up since being traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers and has helped turned them into one of the league's best teams. He was considered to be a locker room problem with the New York Knicks, but Cavs head coach David Blatt says Smith has been amazing since coming to Cleveland.
“I have no idea and I really can’t comment on anything in the past, but I can tell you one thing: J.R. Smith has been a dream for us, as a team and for me personally,” Blatt said. “I love the guy. I love coaching him. He comes to work every single day. He’s a great teammate. He’s playing both ends of the court for us consistently. He’s one of the main reasons for our turnaround, together with Iman, who simply started later because of (a shoulder) injury. Those guys [Smith & Shumpert], honestly, they’ve been a godsend. They really have. They turned the team around.”
Smith credits his turnaround to being in the right situation and limiting the distractions he had in New York.
“Honestly, I got my minutes. It just wasn’t the right situation. I don’t think I didn’t get an opportunity. I got a great opportunity, it just wasn’t the right fit,” Smith said. “It was tough for me from a mental standpoint, second-guessing yourself and second-guessing your talent. (Cleveland’s system is) much easier to play, the style of basketball we play, it suits my game. . . . We have a team that has a possible shot to win a championship. That’s one of the best situations you can ask for.
“It’s not just the nightlife, but being from here you know so many people — family, friends — that have constant access to me. I think that took a lot of it, too. But being in Cleveland, there’s none of that. People call me and stuff like that, but other than that, it’s care-free basketball. There’s no distractions. If there’s a distraction out there, then you created it.”
Smith is averaging 12.8 points on 41.4 percent shooting with the Cavs so far this season.
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