Ohm Youngmisuk, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

No more 'late nights' for J.R. in Cleveland

J.R. Smith thinks Cleveland is “the best situation” for him and it’s not just because LeBron James is there.

The way Smith sees it, the shooter might be able to find more consistency in his game in a city like Cleveland where there isn’t as much of a nightlife as New York City.

In a conversation with NBA.com’s David Aldridge, Smith said living in Cleveland should help his game.

“Consistency has been something that ... I wouldn't say lacked, but it's just been stints where I get hot, and then you go cold for two, three games, whatever the case may be,” Smith said. “Just staying consistent, and that involves staying in the gym. So for me, I got my brother here with me, so we're in the gym every night, playing one-on-one, or whatever the case may be, as well as me getting my rest.

“I think this is the best situation for me, 'cause there's nothing but basketball. There's nothing you expect but basketball. There's nothing, there's no going out, there's no late nights. There's video games, basketball and basketball.”

The former Knick, who was traded along with Iman Shumpert to the Cavs in a three-team deal earlier this month, said living in Cleveland reminds him of what life was like when he was younger.

“It's a great thing, 'cause I go back to where I came from,” said Smith, who grew up in New Jersey. “When I grew up, I never, I wasn't allowed to go out. I missed my prom because I went to an AAU tournament, and all that stuff. For me, it was basketball, basketball, basketball.

“And then when I got in the situation where I was at an early age, it was more, all right, let me see what this life is about, as opposed to just keep going. So now, I get the chance to get back to my roots.”

Smith is averaging 15.2 points in his first 10 games in Cleveland after scoring 10.9 per game as a Knick this season. He admits that the Manhattan nightlife was not the best thing for his game.

“Especially from the standpoint of making me better,” Smith said. “I always made myself better by staying in the gym. When you replace that with stuff off the court, then you're taking away from what made you who you are, or what got you to a certain point. It was kind of pulling me down in a sense, of not getting enough rest, not doing things you're supposed to be doing, things you're used to doing.”

Smith said the toughest part of being traded is no longer playing with Carmelo Anthony, who had been teammates with Smith in Denver and New York.

“We played together nine years,” Smith said. “The bond, the camaraderie, the brotherhood that we gained, it's, I wouldn't say over, it's just discontinued. When you're playing with a person like Melo, you depend on him a lot, from on the court and off the court.

“I can always go to him for advice, just everyday life things, as well as stuff on the court. So I think that's the toughest part. But fortunately, coming to a team like this, I've also got him in a different person, between him and LeBron. It's pretty much the same concepts and stuff like that; it's just coming from a different voice.”

Smith said he really wanted to succeed in the triangle offense. But he understands what Phil Jackson is trying to do in New York.

“They made the right decision,” Smith said. “You have to take the car apart in order for it to be what you want it to be.”

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