INDEPENDENCE: Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue thinks so much of guard J.R. Smith that he wants him to receive a rousing ovation in Tuesday night’s preseason finale in Columbus.
That means Lue is considering bringing Smith off the bench in the 7 p.m. game against the Washington Wizards at Ohio State’s Schottenstein Center.
Smith will play about 12 minutes after missing the first three weeks of training camp in a contract holdout. On Friday night, Smith agreed to terms of a four-year, $57 million deal.
Smith will likely get as loud a reception as he did when he attended the Buckeyes’ Oct. 8 home game against Indiana.
“The fans went crazy,” Smith said. “It was something special, and I definitely treasure that.”
Smith returned to practice Monday at Cleveland Clinic Courts and displayed the shooting touch that helped the Cavs capture the NBA championship. As the session concluded, teammates paired off for around-the-world type 3-point competitions. Smith’s battle with LeBron James left the latter loudly cursing on one occasion.
“It went well,” Smith said of his first practice. “I got my feet under me. I’m obviously familiar with the plays. More than anything just trying to get the timing coming off screens and where I’m supposed to be at the right time. But other than that, legs felt good, shot the ball pretty well.”
Lue said Smith’s biggest challenge is getting into basketball shape.
“You can work out at home, but it’s not the same as training camp, it’s not the same as playing,” Lue said. “You’ve got to be careful with that, just try to hold back his minutes tomorrow night, in practices ... we scrimmaged, I let him play the first five or six minutes, then took him out. I don’t want him to overplay and overexert himself; that way it causes injuries.”
Smith said he will feel the effects of the holdout most on defense.
“Guarding people, coming from the defensive end transitioning to the offensive end, you gotta stop running the floor and get those transition 3s like I’m accustomed to shooting, and chasing guys off screens,” he said. “More on the defensive end [as] opposed to the offensive end.”
With the Oct. 25 opener against the New York Knicks, Smith could have been out to prove something against the team that traded him in January 2015. But that won’t be the case, especially on ring night.
“That’s going to be an honor and a pleasure to get our rings regardless of whether we are playing the Knicks or a college team; it doesn’t really matter,” Smith said. “We get our rings, and I won’t hold any personal vendetta against them. It’s too special of a moment for my teammates and our organization and the fans.
“It’s too much negative energy to focus on that at that point in time. More than anything I just want to be happy for my teammates and treasure that moment and then begin that race to try and get another one.”
About that break
Lue isn’t sure how he feels about the Cavs having a week off before taking on the Knicks.
“After the outcome of Game 1, I’ll let you know,” Lue said. “In the playoffs we did a good job with seven days off, especially having an older team.”
Banner revamped
The massive LeBron James banner that hangs across the street from Quicken Loans Arena will be taken down this week and replaced with one that reflects the Cavs’ NBA championship, the Associated Press reported.
The 10-story mural put up by Sherwin-Williams will add a gold patch of the Larry O’Brien Trophy on the back of James’ jersey.
According to the Associated Press, the new banner is expected to be installed by Friday.
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her blog at www.ohio.com/marla. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MRidenourABJ.