The All-Star weekend’s three-point contest is sometimes as much about showmanship as it is statistics. And it’s definitely about who can get scorching hot over a short span. J.R. Smith has all three of those covered.
As the NBA compiles its contestants for this year’s Shootout, is there a chance that the Cleveland’s long-distance marksman can represent the Wine and Gold one week from Saturday in Toronto?
The 12-year veteran has done All-Star Saturday night twice before – but both times in the Slam Dunk contest, finishing third in 2005 behind Amar’e Stoudemire and eventual winner, Josh Smith. In 2009, he replaced Rudy Gay in the competition, but finished third again. (Anyone would have finished third that year – with Dwight Howard and Nate Robinson stealing the show.)
“Guys know in the league he’s an unbelievable three-point shooter and he deserves an invite.”
This year, Swish could make his way back to the mid-season classic in an entirely different event. It’d be a well-deserved honor – and he’s just the type of player who can dethroning Stephen Curry: a guy who can get red-hot and stay red-hot. Other than the league’s reigning MVP, nobody in NBA history has had more games of eight or more three-pointers in a single contest – something Smith has done 14 times in his career.
For his part, the New Jersey native has adopted a typically laid-back approach to making the cut.
“I wouldn’t mind (being in the Shootout) – it’d be different going to Toronto, it’d be pretty cool,” said Smith. “I’ll do it if they asked me. If they don’t ask me, I’m on vacation.”
Only Suns rookie Devin Booker has committed to this year’s competition. Curry has said he’s planning to make his fourth straight trip, finally winning the whole thing last year in New York, canning 13 straight bombs and finishing with 27 points in the final round.
If J.R. did get chosen – and even if he won the whole enchilada – he’d be just one of four Cavaliers who’ve taken home the trophy. From 2011 through 2013, three current Cavaliers cornered the market.
At the 2011 Shootout, James Jones – who still carries the nickname “Champ” – topped a pair of Celtics (Paul Pierce and Ray Allen) and the Cavs representative (Daniel Gibson) to win it all. The following February in Orlando, Kevin Love out-shot Kevin Durant and Jones to take top honors. In 2013, Kyrie Irving scored 32 points the BBVA Rising Stars Challenge on Friday night and, in the Shootout on Saturday, canned 10 straight triples and finished with 23 points to hoist the trophy.
But probably the most memorable winner was legendary Cavaliers sharpshooter, Mark Price, who won it in back-to-back years – in Minnesota in 1993 and the following season in Salt Lake City, dethrone Chicago’s Craig Hodges, who’d taken the previous three straight.
Back to J.R. Smith, who’s been sensational at times from beyond the arc this season – including a three-game run in early January, shooting 60 percent from long-range. Smith canned 18 treys over that span, prompting LeBron James to lobby for his longtime pal after he went 5-for-6 from deep in a 26-point win in Minnesota.
“Us being the No. 1 team in the East, him shooting the ball the way he’s been shooting – we need to try to get as many guys at All-Star as possible,” praised James. “Guys know in the league he’s an unbelievable three-point shooter and he deserves an invite.”
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Statistically-speaking, Smith has also been rising rapidly through the ranks of all-time three-point shooters – passing former teammate Mike Miller with his second triple in Monday night’s win over Indiana. (His third three was his biggest, however, cutting the Pacers’ four-point lead to one with just under two minutes to play.)
Smith has now hit 1,580 threes for his career, moving into 18th place in NBA history and with Jason Richardson (1,608) directly in his sights.
But those stats don’t mean as much to Smith as they might have when he was a youngster who went from St. Benedict’s Prep directly into the NBA as the 18th overall pick in 2004.
“I set goals like that when I was younger; now, they don’t mean as much,” said Smith. “To me, it’s more about winning than my individual accolades. That plays second-fiddle to us winning. I set those goals early, but the older I get, they started to dwindle.”
When J.R. arrived in New Orleans as a 19-year-old, he wasn’t anywhere near the shooter he’s become today. But in his fourth season in the league – then with Denver – Smith shot 40 percent from long-range, and “Swish” was born.
Before that, he was known more for his slashing ability and aerial acrobatics.
“Yeah, I was more athletic back then, too,” laughed Smith. “Fortunately, I was able to make my mark on shooting the ball. And I’ve stuck around long enough to be that knock-down guy that the team needs. The league has enough athletic guys. (I) tried to bring something a little different.”
Since his arrival in Cleveland back on January 7 of last season, Smith has drilled 236 triples. No player in the Eastern Conference has hit more over that stretch. In 89 regular season games with the Wine and Gold, he’s averaged 2.7 threes per contest.
One debate that’s continued over the course of his career in Cleveland is whether Smith is better from long-distance when he’s wide-open or with an opponent draped on him – (as was the case during last year’s Game 1 win Atlanta in the Eastern Conference Finals when he went 8-for-12 from deep).
“Honestly, when I catch and shoot, it doesn’t matter if there’s somebody there or not,” said Smith. “I mean, I like when somebody’s there because I’m used to being contested. But when I’m in a rhythm and it’s catch and shoot, I don’t even see him. I’m just thinking about making the shot.”
Smith also seems to shoot better when the squad’s deeper in the shot-clock.
“It’s better when the shot-clock is running down, because you don’t think – you’re just catching and shooting,” Smith admitted. “Early in the shot-clock, you’re thinking about making the extra pass, thinking about what’s the situation. When the shot-clock’s going down, it’s just catch and shoot.”
If given the chance, Smith might just win the Three-Point Shootout at this year’s All-Star Weekend in Toronto. But maybe the more pertinent question is who would win it among a group of Cavaliers that contains three champs – (including one who goes by that very moniker)?
Smith didn’t hesitate to answer.
“On our team? Me! In my opinion, absolutely! It’d be fun, though. We should try it sometime.”
