Joe Smith: Just What the Doctor Ordered for Aspiring Cleveland Cavaliers

Right before the trading deadline last season, I was sitting near court side for a Cleveland Cavaliers home game. It was well before the game as players got ready during shoot around.

While some players were engaged in idle chit-chat or were working on shots that they may never take in a game, Joe Smith was working on a shooting drill with assistant coach Chris Jent.

Smith started on the low block and bounced out to two separate spots on the floor roughly 10 to 15 feet near the wing. Jent hit him with the pass and he squared.

Smith took the same two shots about 50 times each.

The game started with Smith on the bench. He came into the game early in the second quarter and proceeded to knock down his first two shots from those same two spots on the floor the first times he touched the ball.

That is the professionalism that Smith brings to the table.

He finished the game in his same modest, but productive fashion. Just like every other game he played for the Cavs where he scored 8-12 points, garnered 4-8 rebounds, and maybe added a blocked shot or two.

Now the Cavs get back what they lost after re-acquiring Smith in a waiver wire deal.

Smith is what he is. He is a 6’10” low-post threat, with a dependable short to mid-range game.

He knows how to defend in the post and plays good help defense. He’s also a solid rebounder.

He is a calming, steadying influence on a sometimes excitable team.

Getting Smith back for the stretch run is just what the doctor ordered for these Cavs, who were a big man short after a broken leg forced Big Ben Wallace to the bench.

In some ways, Cleveland will be better off with Smith coming off the bench than they were with Wallace in the starting lineup. Wallace, for all his defensive and rebounding prowess, is somewhat “offensively challenged.”

There are some who crowed that the Cavs did not make a big splash at the trade deadline. But GM Danny Ferry has persistently maintained that “team chemistry” is what has given the Cavs the best record in the East.

Smith does what those trade rumored players do not. That is, Smith maintains the team’s chemistry while adding one more weapon off the bench.

As a former Cav, Smith understands their defensive philosophy, which is what makes this team hum.

While the offense has changed, it actually has changed to fit him better. He will be able to continue to stick that mid-range jumper more frequently now that they do a better job of spreading the floor.

Most importantly for coach Mike Brown, it gives the Cavs another big man whom he can rely on in the rotation. Smith will now take the place of rookie J.J. Hickson, who has suddenly fallen out of favor with coach Brown because of some mental lapses on defense.

Hickson would be well-advised to watch not only Smith’s play on the floor, but watch the way Smith goes about his business to get ready for games. Smith will provide the veteran leadership that guys like Hickson and fellow rookie big man Darnell Jackson should take a page from.

The addition of Joe Smith will undoubtedly help this team in its quest to secure home court advantage in the playoffs. This move might also go a long way towards improving this team's future long after he is no longer a Cav.

My position on who wins the East has not wavered from the start. Whoever gets home court in the playoffs will win the Eastern Conference.

Adding Joe Smith is a much-needed piece to the puzzle to help the Cleveland Cavaliers do just that.