Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue said he is sticking with J.R. Smith in the starting lineup for Game 3 of the NBA Finals.
ESPN reported after the Cavs fell to 0-2 in the series with a 132-113 loss to the Golden State Warriors Sunday that Lue was considering going with Iman Shumpert instead of Smith. Smith has scored only three points in two games, while averaging 21.1 minutes. In Game 2, he picked up his fourth foul with 9:49 left in in the third quarter and went scoreless in 14 minutes.
Asked if he intended to swap Shumpert for Smith in Wednesday's Game 3 at Quicken Loans Arena, Lue said, "I'm not doing it. I'm not making a change."
Lue said that would also extend to rotations that may not have been used much during the regular season or the Cavs' 12-3 playoff run.
Shumpert was used to defend Kevin Durant in the second half of Game 2 and showed aggressiveness against the former league MVP, requiring intravenous fluids after the game, according to ESPN. Richard Jefferson also spent time defending Durant, who had 33 points, 13 rebounds and six assists in 40 minutes. That followed up a 38-8-8 stat line in Game 1.
"Durant's a tough cover. Just like LeBron started on him to set the tone early, try to bring a physicality to him. And then after that, we got to put other guys on him so LeBron can get his rest," Lue said Tuesday after practice at Quicken Loans Arena. "We ask him to score, pass. With Shump on him, with R.J. on him, just try to give him different looks. It's going to be tough to guard him one-on-one, anyway, so having LeBron off the ball where he's able to get some steals and roam a little bit and play free safety, it was good for us. We'll see how it goes."
Primarily focusing on defense in the playoffs, Smith is averaging 5.9 points and 2.4 rebounds, down from 8.6 points and 2.8 rebounds in the regular season. He missed 41 games during the regular season, 36 with a fractured right thumb. His daughter Dakota was born five months premature in January; she was recently released from the hospital.
Asked what he needed to do differently in Game 3, Smith said, "Focus. Better focus on the defensive end. I got two really dumb fouls, the one on K.D. on a four-point play, and then I fouled Steph in transition and he go got three shots at the free-throw line. I just have to be solid. No fouls. Try to stay in the game as much as you can without fouling. And other than that, any other opportunity I can get to try to make something happen."
Playing at home may make a difference for Smith, he said, "Playing at home, it's always one of my favorite places to play, as opposed to playing in certain cities and stuff like that. Whenever you're playing at home, you feel like you got a good routine. I'm just happy to be back so I can spend time with my daughter. I hope that that brings me enough joy to come out here and do what I love to do."
If Lue decides Smith is better with the second unit, Smith said he will take it in stride.
"I don't care. If we win, it doesn't matter to me," Smith said. "If I'm in a suit or whatever, if we win the championship, we all get rings."
Asked what the Cavs need from Smith in Game 3, Kyrie Irving wouldn't single him out.
"We just need our supporting group to be themselves as much as possible. Understand that they have a unique opportunity to make us that much better," Irving said. "For a majority of this season it's been on myself, Bron and K-Love's shoulders. And we have done a great job of getting everyone involved and making sure that everyone feels comfortable, but now we need everything and everybody. I know they know how important they are. It's our job, my job to exude as much confidence as I can in them in order to get the very best, and I will do that."
