Sir Charles in Charge
Fansided

Danny Green has been terrible: Is it time for JR Smith to step up?

By IC San Pedro

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 04: JR Smith #21 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after a three point basket during the first half against the Miami Heat in Game Three of the 2020 NBA Finals at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on October 04, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 04: JR Smith #21 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after a three point basket during the first half against the Miami Heat in Game Three of the 2020 NBA Finals at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on October 04, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Danny Green has been extremely underwhelming for the Los Angeles Lakers 

Danny Green is averaging 6.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game in the 2020 NBA Finals on 25.8 percent shooting from the 3-point line. Never mind that he just bricked the most important shot of his career when LeBron James, double-teamed, passed him the ball in the final seconds of Game 5 for a wide-open 3.

The shot likely would’ve delivered a championship for the Los Angeles Lakers and clinched LeBron James his fourth ring. In the end, the shot missed and there will now be a Game 6 between the Lakers and Miami Heat.

Never mind that NBA Twitter went crazy after that brick.

Among the Los Angeles Lakers in this NBA Finals who attempted at least one 3-point shot, he has the second-lowest 3-point shooting percentage, ahead of only Rajon Rondo. He has one job on offense, and that’s to make 3’s.

Considering that Danny Green is the third highest-paid player of the Los Angeles Lakers this season, behind only LeBron James and Anthony Davis, to say that everyone’s expecting more than his current production is an understatement. He signed for $15 million per year for championship experience and leadership, but he’s not delivering.

Remember when Danny Green set the record for most 3’s made in an NBA Finals series at the time in 2013? That seems so long ago, and no one will bet that he’ll do anything close to that today.

In fairness to Danny Green, maybe it’s because he’s injured. Let’s give him the benefit of the doubt. He suffered a hip injury in Game 2. He says he is not 100 percent but clarifies that at this point in the season, no one is 100 percent. He impacts the defensive end too, so it would be unfair to say that he’s just a liability.

But whatever may be the reason for his underperformance, he is not getting the job done. So maybe it’s time to look for other options.

Should we be looking at JR Smith?

The Lakers signed JR Smith as an additional scoring option off the bench. He’s an NBA champion, a career 37.3 percent 3-point shooter, and one of the best perimeter defenders in the Cleveland Cavaliers championship team. He’s a trusted teammate of LeBron James, as long as he doesn’t forget the score when he crashes the board in the final seconds of an NBA Finals game.

Will he be ready to step up?

He’s barely gotten any playing time, as he’s behind Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Danny Green, Alex Caruso, and Rajon Rondo in the Lakers’ guards rotation. Swish has only played a total of 10 minutes the whole NBA Finals and did not play due to the coach’s decision (DNP-CD) in Game 5.

But I think he is ready to step up. JR Smith stayed ready when he was out of the league, ready to pounce on the first opportunity to return to the NBA. If that is any indication, then he should be ready now, in the biggest stage, when his number is called.

I’m not saying that Frank Vogel should pull out Danny Green from the rotation entirely and shove JR Smith right into the starting lineup. But clearly, Danny Green clearly isn’t himself. The leash should be shorter. If Danny Green is not getting the job done, Vogel could pull him out and bring in JR Smith for a few more minutes.

Who knows, maybe he’ll hit a big shot or two.

Maybe he’ll get on that JR Smith-signature hot streak.

Next. Sacramento Kings: Why Buddy Hield must not be traded. dark

Or maybe he’ll just grab an offensive rebound in the final seconds of the game, remember what the score is, and then make the correct play to win the championship.