JR Smith is not clear on the offensive plan for the Cleveland Cavaliers having just have been traded to the team earlier in the week, but he sure was not clear on the offensive plan when playing for the New York Knicks. When Phil Jackson and Derek Fisher stepped in as team president and head coach respectfully, they immediately introduced the triangle offense, something that both had success with in the past. However, Smith said he was never truly able to grasp it, something that held him back at the start of the season.
Smith is now free to share his thoughts on the down-right terrible season the New York Knicks are having after he was a salary cap casualty and was moved to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The shooting guard said that the triangle offense was difficult for players to embrace and it factored into the mood and energy level of the team.
"It's almost too much thinking,'' Smith told The New York Post. "Everybody in the building was pretty much walking on eggshells so it was kind of hard to prosper in that way, especially when you are not accustomed to it. But eventually I'm sure they'll get it right.''
Smith made note that he was not allowed to do what he was accustomed to doing on offense and felt that he was being held back. Smith was quick to say that he was sad to leave the Knicks recalling his long-time friendship with Carmelo Anthony along with his commitment to the franchise. However, now he is on a team that could be on the verge of a championship which is what he remains focused on.
"The real goal is to win a championship, right now," Smith said. "As opposed to saying, 'We're going to be good, but it's going to take two to three years.' This is more of a right-now team.''
LeBron James was certainly a fan of the move along with the acquisitions of both Iman Shumpert and Timofey Mozgov. The Cavaliers filled multiple needs on the floor and hope these deals finally start pushing momentum in Cleveland once James returns from injury.
"J.R. is a guy who spaces the floor for us, who can create his own shot, he's a very athletic guy who has 51 playoff games," James said. "Shump is a young guy who can be Jimmy Butler at some point for our team.''
