J.R. Smith isn’t going anywhere at the NBA trade deadline, and here’s the kicker: He shouldn’t. The Nuggets are better off with him.
Seriously.
The Lakers are on every fan’s mind, and with good reason. They’re the defending champions. But if the Nuggets are fortunate enough to make it back to the Western Conference finals and face them, it’s time to rethink the matchup.
You can change what you do to match the opposition. That’s one way of attacking a problem. But the Nuggets don’t need to do that. They don’t need to change to match the Lakers as much they need the Lakers to match them.
Smith is the matchup problem.
He obviously can be a devastating shooter, has improved his dribble-drive into the lane and finishing at the rim over the last couple of seasons. And though there are still some bad turnovers and bad shots, I’ve told anyone who has asked that I believe overall he’s played a much better floor game this season than last. He is, in fact, an improved player.
And he’s steadily getting better this season. His confidence is up; that’s clear to see in his body language. In his last five games, Smith has averaged 16.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists — all above his season averages. More important, he’s had an assist-to- turnover ratio of 1.5 during that span, which isn’t all bad. And he’s a player who historically gains steam after the all-star break.
It’s all worth something. To the Nuggets, it can be worth a lot. There is not a player off the Lakers’ bench who can match up with Smith as long as he doesn’t allow a Sasha Vujacic-type to run out there, get physical with him and get in his head. Much like Lamar Odom gave the Lakers a decided advantage, the Nuggets can use Smith.
Experience is the best teacher here. Last year, the Lakers were able to take Smith — in his first extended postseason — out of most of the series. If he learns and applies those lessons, the four games where he scored 10 points or less will be a different story this time around. He’s too talented and, yes, too good a player for it not to be.
Could the Nuggets get taller? Yes. Would that make them better than an improved Smith? Absolutely not.
