The Cleveland Cavaliers are on track to make the playoffs for the fourth straight season, with Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen looking more cohesive by the day.
The Cavaliers are looking to reclaim the title they last won during their historic run in 2016, led by LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love. Part of that roster is JR Smith, who also won a title with James on the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020.
On “To the Baha,” Smith was asked who would win in a game between those title squads of the Cavaliers and the Lakers. The former flamethrower did not bat an eyelash.
“Cavs. Not even close,” said Smith.
“I say it’s not close because with the Lakers, we got an older Rajon Rondo, got obviously an older Bron, an older Anthony Davis. That team in Cleveland, Kyrie? First of all, K, nobody on that Lakers team is checking him. Nobody. K-Love. AD was definitely gonna cook, but the way Double T (Tristan Thompson) played though, I don’t know. I can’t say he was going to cook because Double T, he knows how to get in a m**********’s skin though.”
Smith made a solid argument, with a 31-year-old James and a 24-year-old Irving being absolute beasts during their seven-game series with the Golden State Warriors. Who could forget them scoring 40 points apiece in a do-or-die Game 6?
Although James’ numbers in the 2016 NBA Finals and the 2020 NBA Finals were pretty similar, he was better defensively with the Cavaliers. He was quicker, more engaged, and extra motivated. Just ask Andre Iguodala.
In terms of statistics, the Lakers in 2020 were better across the board than the Cavaliers in 2016, but Smith may be a bit biased, as he played a bigger role in Cleveland than in Los Angeles.
Also, he memorably went shirtless during the Cavaliers’ championship parade. How can you top that?