Party pooper: Lack of nightlife has revived game of Cavaliers J.R. Smith

Wondering why J.R. Smith’s game has come alive since being traded to the Cavaliers? Simple: he’s no longer partying like he did during his time with the Knicks.

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Few players in the NBA have burned the candle on both ends like J.R. Smith, whose passion for the nightlife has rivaled his albeit streaky scoring and gravity-defying dunks that have defined his career.

Smith looked like a cast member of The Walking Dead for much of his time with the Knicks this season, averaging just over 10 points per game while shooting a mere 35 percent from 3-point range. He was traded to the Cavaliers on January 5 and has looked a lot like the former Sixth Man of the Year he once was in New York. Smith is now averaging 14 points per game while his long range accuracy has improved to 37 percent.

Perhaps there’s a reason why Smith has found his stroke? Why yes:

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.”

Yeah, when basketball and Titanfall are consuming your time, chances are pretty good you’re going to feel better come gametime.

The good people at basketballreference.com can also bolster the theory behind Smith’s once-renowned penchant for making the honeys feel good while either making it rain or drinking booze whose price tag is more than some may make in a 40-hour work week. Follow along if you will.

Smith, a career 13.3 points per game shooter, plays at his worst on Sundays, where his average falls to 12.6 points per game while also shooting 38.7 percent from the field. Sunday is the only day of the week where Smith’s career shooting percentage falls below 40 percent.

Do we need to know why or will we just ignore reality?

If you’re wondering, Smith tends to do pretty well on Saturdays, where he’s averaged 13.4 points per game while also shooting 43 percent. With numbers like that, you can begin to understand why Smitty loved to let off steam afterwards, especially if the game was played at Madison Square Garden.

“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,” said Smith. “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.”

As long as life remains dull in Cleveland, the Cavs will benefit from Smith’s rehab from trying to match New York City’s reputation for being the “City that never sleeps.”

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