OAKLAND, CALIF.: J.R. Smith’s commitment to defense this season can be traced back to a promise he made his daughter.
Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue has at times referred to Smith as the team’s best perimeter defender. Smith said it’s because of a pact he made talking about sacrifice.
“I had a conversation with my daughter earlier this year about her sacrificing her toys because she wants new toys,” Smith explained. “I said, ‘Well, baby, if you want new toys you’re going to have to sacrifice and give these other toys away to people who can’t afford or are less fortunate.’ She was like, ‘Well, daddy, what are you going to sacrifice?’
“I sat there and honestly thought about it. I thought, ‘One thing I can control is my defense. Come in and impact the game.’ I talked to her about it, even though she doesn’t understand exactly from a basketball term, but she understands where I come from.”
Smith has long been viewed as a shooter whose defense was either secondary or non-existent. Not anymore.
“I used to be a guy who prided my work pretty much on how I shot the ball. I try not to be that person anymore,” he said. “Not let whether I’m making shots or missing shots define what I can do on the court. I try to start my energy and bring everything on the defensive side and let my defense turn into transition offense.
“I appreciate the praises from coach Lue and my teammates, but the job isn’t done yet. I’ve got a helluva task guarding Klay [Thompson] and whoever else and I’m up for it.”
Gift exchange
LeBron James gave his Cavs teammates gold-plated Beats by Dre headphones over the weekend as part of his ongoing tradition of providing Finals gifts to all of his teammates. The headphones follow last year’s gift of Apple watches.
The headphones James presented his teammates with this weekend came with an inscription: “You have worked, trained and dreamed of this moment. It’s your time now.” Richard Jefferson revealed the headphones on his popular Snapchat account.
“I didn’t see the headphones, but I heard he gave the guys some, which is great,” Lue said. “And LeBron being here six straight times, it’s unbelievable. He’s been here, he knows what it takes. Guys are looking to him, and he’s been helping guys out throughout this process.”
Unfamiliar feeling
The postseason is nearly two months old, yet the 1-0 deficit the Cavs faced Sunday was the first time in these playoffs they’ve trailed in a series.
“That’s part of the game,” Lue said. “We understand they’re on their home floor. They played well last game. We’re a very confident group. It’s just one loss on their home floor, so guys are not taken aback or shaken because of the loss.”
No Thurmond
Hall of famer Nate Thurmond, 74, a product of Akron Central High School and Bowling Green, regularly attends Warriors games. He was not expected at Games 1 and 2 of the Finals, however.
Drafted third overall in 1963 by the then-San Francisco Warriors, Thurmond played 11 of his 14 NBA seasons for the franchise before finishing his career with the Cavaliers from 1975-77. He still lives in San Francisco, where he operated the popular Big Nate’s BBQ until selling it in 2012. The Cavs retired his No. 42.
Green light
Warriors coach Steve Kerr said Klay Thompson and Steph Curry are allowed to shoot from wherever they want on the floor. There is no such thing as a bad shot with those two.
“Those guys are allowed to take any shots they want. That’s the rule. Steph and Klay are, nobody else is. I trust their judgment,” Kerr said. “But the minute I start complaining about bad shots, all I have to do is, ‘Oh, yeah, in Oklahoma City, Game 6, Klay took five bad shots that helped us win.’ So bad shots for those guys, it’s a different definition from everybody else.”
Dribbles
James moved ahead of John Stockton for fourth place on the all-time postseason steals list with his 338th during the first quarter Sunday. James also passed Karl Malone and Danny Ainge for sole possession of 10th place on the all-time postseason games played list. … Kevin Love entered Sunday with 10 double-doubles this postseason, second-most in these playoffs. … Tristan Thompson has grabbed at least 10 rebounds in all seven of his NBA Finals games prior to Sunday.
Jason Lloyd can be reached at jlloyd@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Cavs blog at www.ohio.com/cavs. Follow him on Twitter www.twitter.com/JasonLloydABJ.