CLEVELAND — J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert, about to make their first Finals appearance, have heard words of encouragement from former Knicks teammate Carmelo Anthony as they key Cleveland’s postseason run.
While Anthony continues to rehab from knee surgery, he has kept his eyes on his former mates. Anthony was teammates with Smith all the way back to Denver while Anthony took Shumpert under his wing as a Knicks rookie during the 2011-12 lockout year.
“I heard from him, he’s excited for us,’’ Smith said after Cavaliers practice Sunday in advance of Thursday’s Game 1 of The Finals in Oakland, Calif. “He’s excited for us. I talked to him for a while. I can’t say everything he said, I’d probably get fined. It was a great conversation.’’
Was Anthony lamenting the notion Smith and Shumpert are no longer in New York?
“Nah, he was happy,” Smith said. “He wanted me to go out and have fun. It’s a stage I’ve been waiting for. He told me to go out there and thrive on it. He’s happy for me.’’
Shumpert, however, admitted Anthony probably has mixed emotions he’s no longer teammates with the two shooting-guard snipers who helped turn around the Cavaliers’ season when they arrived Jan. 5 following the Phil Jackson fire sale.
“Melo’s texted us throughout the playoffs,’’ Shumpert said. “He’s always a supporter. I can always lean on him if I have any questions about the game. He’s a huge basketball guy, always watching, always trying to learn from us, and we’re always going to take advice from him.’’
Asked if Anthony is torn because they are no longer Knicks, Shumpert said: “I think so, naturally. But he’s a huge basketball fan, always going to be cheering for our success unless he has to play against us. We definitely have a great friendship.’’
During the playoffs, Shumpert and Smith flip-flopped roles. Shumpert, playing with a groin strain since the second round, is shining as the starting shooting guard and Smith as the sixth man. One of the most telling stats is as a combination on the court, Shumpert and Smith have the highest plus-minus rating of any Cavs combo, a plus-24 per 100 plays.
“I enjoy playing with him, maybe that’s what it is,’’ Shumpert said. “We’ve played with each other so long, we know each other’s game. But it’s also a lot to do when we got traded here on the plane.
“That whole plane ride to Cleveland from Memphis, it was me and J.R. talking to each other on what we had to bring to this team. How much we had watched Cleveland on our own. They had a TV game, we sat up watching them or when preparing to play them when we were in New York. We just tried to figure out how to add to the team. Putting it in your mind and then going out and doing it is what’s made us successful so far.’’
Smith uses golf as a method of relaxation, but sometimes Cleveland’s erratic Lake Erie weather hasn’t cooperated. He plays at the Lakewood Country Club outside Cleveland — a good omen, having been raised in Lakewood, N.J. It was in the 50s and raining over the Cleveland weekend.
“I play every day except when it’s raining,’’ Smith said. “I can’t schedule for thunder. I got a Thunder Buddy at home.’’
Cavs coach David Blatt heard from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after winning the Euroleague title last spring with Maccabi Tel Aviv and yet again the other day after winning the Eastern Conference championship.
“He said all of Israel is behind the Cavaliers,’’ Blatt said.“That was great.’’
With four more wins, the Israeli sporting legend may hear from a new leader.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to hear from the prime minister of Israel, of Russia [after winning the bronze at the 2012 Olympics]. There’ll be nothing better than to hear from Obama.”
About 70 Cavaliers regular-season games were telecast on Israel’s Channel 5 — the country’s ESPN.
