Cavs' Smith wishes Golden State Warriors luck in defending LeBron James
The Golden State Warriors throwing double teams at LeBron James in the NBA Finals will result in more open looks for his Cleveland Cavaliers teammates, including the trigger-happy J.R. Smith.
The Prodigy recently wished the Warriors all the luck in the world in trying to slow down the 11-time NBA All-Star, knowing potential double teams will give him the space to truly shine.
J.R. Smith on Warriors guarding LeBron James: "Best of luck to 'em. I hope he do double, so I get open shots."
— Diamond Leung (@diamond83) May 31, 2015
Some free looks at the basket could lead to crazy scoring nights for Smith, and maybe even a surprise Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player win should the Cavaliers emerge with their first championship in franchise history.
Can you imagine? Never say never.
LeBron's postseason run through 14 games has been the stuff of legends, averaging a near triple-double of 27.6 points, 10.4 rebounds and 8.6 assists in 36.2 minutes. He scored a season-high 42 points in his only action versus Golden State during the regular season.
It may take a superhuman defensive showing from the Warriors' wings - specifically Harrison Barnes, Draymond Green, and Andre Iguodala - to keep the best player on the planet at bay. Then again, if Golden State can figure out a way to solve the LeBron problem, perhaps Smith will emerge and become the ultimate thorn in the Warriors' side.
Smith put his best foot forward in the Eastern Conference Finals versus the Atlanta Hawks, averaging 18.0 points and 7.5 rebounds on 50 percent shooting. With Kyrie Irving nursing a slew of injuries, Smith elevated his game on the big stage to become Cleveland's unofficial No. 2 behind LeBron.
Irving still isn't close to being 100 percent healthy, which could lead to an increased role for Smith when the Larry O'Brien Trophy is finally on the line.
Game 1 of the NBA Finals takes place Thursday at the Oracle Arena in Golden State.