Unorthodox yet effective, J.R. Smith the latest difference maker for Cavs

Jeff Zillgitt | USA TODAY Sports

ATLANTA — Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James chuckled the moment he heard teammate J.R. Smith say, "It's kind of hard hitting the shots I was hitting, to try and pass the ball, but you've got to figure out a way."

When Smith makes shots the way he did in Game 1 against the Atlanta Hawks – 8-for-12 on three-pointers and a mesmerizing flurry of points in the second half – there are few players a team would rather have shooting, even if that means low-percentage, contested three-pointers.

"Those shots are not in rhythm for myself, but for him, those are in-rhythm shots, and you can see the rhythm that he had. They were barely touching the net," James said of Smith's playoff career-high 28 points.

Smith propelled Cleveland to a series-opening 97-89 road victory win with nine points in the second quarter and 17 points during a five-minute, 31-second stretch late in the third quarter and early in the fourth quarter in which the Cavs outscored the Hawks 22-4.

During that run, Smith made 6-for-7 from the field and 5-for-6 on a variety of three-pointers that could've earned more points for degree of difficulty: a backpedaling corner three with Kent Bazemore closing on him; a hesitation three from the right wing with Paul Millsap defending; a catch-and-shoot three out of an in-bounds play; another step-back three from the top of the key; and the coup de grace – a turnaround catch-and-shoot three in front of an exasperated and dejected Hawks defense.

"I'd rather take a contested shot than an open shot any day," Smith said. "For me, it's kind of boring when you get open shots. Honestly there's more pressure when you get an open shot. Everybody's expecting you to make it."

Said James: "When a guy has it going like that, you don't mind taking a couple of off-balance shots, a couple of contested shots. He's 8-for-12 from three-point line and should have took four or five more."

Sometimes, Smith takes shots coaches tell players not to take. They are the shots Smith embraces, and Smith hasn't met many attempts he doesn't like. But that's what makes J.R. Smith J.R. Smith, and Cavs coach David Blatt understands that.

"I've coached a few guys like J.R. but not a lot and I think that you have to understand – even way back when J.R. first came in – we know what he is and we know he needs to have the confidence and a lot of freedom in terms of seeking his shot," Blatt said. "Because of the way he shoots the ball and because of the way he positions himself, most of his shots are good shots whereas another person it may not be considered that. Once in a while, he's going to throw up a bad one. And you know what? So be it. Because you've got to give him that freedom."

You know who likes to hear that? Earl Smith, J.R.'s dad, who gets miffed when he hears commentators say his son takes good bad shots. Smith said he learned early in his basketball career that he could take and make those shots, and his dad helped him.

"I told him as long as his shoulders were square and his shooting arm was in the shape of a L or V, it didn't matter if he was twisting his body," Earl told USA TODAY Sports. "He's been making those kinds of shots his whole life."

And for a glimpse of where Smith gets some of his shot-taking audacity, Earl said he liked to spot up about 10 feet behind the three-point line in competitive New Jersey rec leagues. Earl also used to tell his son the shot didn't count unless it was all net. The nickname J.R. Swish makes even more sense now.

"Jordan was probably one of the best toughest shot makers there was, and I try to idolize my game after him as much as I could," Smith said. "It's never really panned out for me like that, but I've always been accustomed to taking those shots."

He understands that his shot-taking can frustrate coaches, but he said he really never hashes his philosophy on shots with those coaches.

"They're not too fond with those shots, period, let alone with me taking them," Smith said. "I don't really have those conversations."

And more than one coach has told Smith to stay within himself on the court, to which Smith astutely replies, "Then when I make those tough shots, I tell them, 'This is myself.' "

Smith has found a comfortable role in Cleveland, and he's a major reason why the Cavaliers are in the Eastern Conference finals.

"More than anything, I don't have to do as much," Smith said. "I don't have to come off pick-and-rolls. I just space the floor. If I've got a shot, shoot. If I don't, penetrate and drive and find somebody. Before, it was being a playmaker with so much stuff on your shoulders. Now, it's just go out there and play."

Smith has benefited from playing on a team with James and Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love before Love was injured. When defenses are focusing on those players, it creates better scoring opportunities for Smith and he understands that.

Think about what the Knicks got in return for Smith and guard Iman Shumpert in the January trade that helped turn Cleveland's season around. Just about nothing. Smith's time in New York had just about expired, and his game wasn't meshing with New York's rebuild.

The Cavs needed offensive and defensive improvements in early January, and their front office needed to consider some of Smith's past transgressions – the suspensions and fines which have subtracted more than $600,000 from his bottom line.

James had no qualms about adding Smith to Cleveland's roster. "With the talent this guy presents, I knew the man he was, and I didn't really care about what everybody else thought about him," James said.

Smith's lack of composure – a wild backward swing of his arm that connected with Jae Crowder – in Game 4 against Boston in the first round earned him a two-game suspension. But since returning from that suspension, Smith is shooting 51.3% on three-pointers and averaging 15.8 points.

Smith said he's trying to be on his best behavior because he doesn't want to let his parents down, but Earl said that's not necessary and that the family is proud of him.

Late in the season after a game in Milwaukee, Smith admitted he's more energized with the Cavs. "I've always played with a certain passion and love and respect of the game," Smith said two months ago. "Coming from a situation where you're just trying to get one or two wins to where you expect to win every night, it's a totally different mindset. It's great for your mentality."

As he talked in the Bucks' visitors' locker room, Smith also watched the final round of the PGA's Arnold Palmer Invitational on his tablet rather than NCAA tournament games. Golf is Smith's second game, and a few days after that, he played 36 holes with Bubba Watson on an off day in Orlando. The next day, he went to the morning shootaround, played another 18 and then dropped 25 points on the Magic that night.

As much as Smith loves to golf, he's never had a hole-in-one.

"If I ever get a hole-in-one, trust me," Smith said, "everybody's going to know about it."