J.R. Smith on David Blatt: 'I'd run through a brick wall for Coach'

J.R. Smith had worn out his welcome in New York, but he got a second life last season when he was traded from the Knicks to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

After languishing on a woeful team and being admittedly sidetracked by the many distractions in Manhattan, Smith became a reliable (if still characteristically flammable) role player for the Eastern Conference-champion Cavs, refocused in part because of the city's lack of nighttime extracurriculars.

Smith, who has been criticized throughout his career for his oft-reckless shot selection and enigmatic behavior, also says he benefited from having a coach who was firmly in his corner. While he may not have always looked outwardly inspired by David Blatt's halftime pep talks, Smith appreciated - and rewarded - the coach's faith in him.

"First things first, before we get into basketball, Coach really cares about me as a person," Smith told Chris Fedor of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "That's one of the first coaches I've had that actually cared about me off the court more than on the court, so it was that much easier for me to play for him and give my all because I know he cares about me as a person.

"When you have someone like that behind you it's so much easier just to play. I'd run through a brick wall for Coach."

It wasn't always smooth sailing in Cleveland for Smith, who was suspended for two playoff games after catching Boston Celtics forward Jae Crowder with a wild backhand swing in the first round, and then struggled mightily in the Cavs' six-game Finals loss to the Golden State Warriors.

Blatt, too, had a bumpy road in his first season with the Cavs, dealing with constant doubts about both his coaching acumen and his authority. But the pairing proved to be a mutually beneficial one.

"He just lets me play," Smith said. "He tells me to make the best basketball play possible. He doesn't tell me not to shoot or when to shoot. He tells me to make the best basketball play. He trusts me with that."

Said Blatt: "Last year, and again I think we've talked about it some, he fit right in. He fits in on the floor and he fits in in the locker room. J.R. is a Cavalier. He's part of the fabric of this team. So he doesn't have to worry about fitting in anymore. He's very much a part of us and vice versa. I'm not concerned about that at all. I love coaching the guy."

Smith opted out of the final year of his contract at the end of the season, but re-signed with Cleveland in early September for two years and $10.3 million. Blatt couldn't be more pleased.

"From Day 1, I was very hopeful and I think we all were, that J.R. would be here," he said. "There's things that go on in terms of contract negotiations that are maybe a little beyond me, number one, and number two, sometimes outside of the realm of professional matters. But I think it was everyone's strong desire that J.R. be with this team going forward and fortunately in the end, that's the way it worked out."