J.R. Smith: We've got to help LeBron

As the Eastern Conference finals shifts to Cleveland, J.R. Smith knows something has to change for the Cavaliers.

Overwhelmed through two games by the Boston Celtics, the Cavs look less like the team that destroyed the Toronto Raptors, and more like the squad that struggled through chunks of the season.

"We have to ramp it up," Smith told reporters Thursday. "We're playing too slow. We're making (LeBron James) play hero ball, which is tough to do, especially in the Eastern Conference finals. We've got to help."

In Game 2, James scored 42 of the Cavs' 94 points after a subpar Game 1. Meanwhile, Smith has been one of the biggest culprits behind Cleveland's inefficiencies, shooting 2-of-16 (including 0-of-7 from deep) in the two games so far.

"We have to give him the opportunity for us to make him feel confident to give us the ball so we can make the right plays," Smith said. "We've got to help him and he's got to help us."

Only one Cavalier other than James is averaging double-digit scoring so far in the Boston series: Kevin Love.

"We can't settle," Smith said. "We've been settling for a lot of jump shots, a lot of contested jump shots like that. Obviously we know we're a pretty good three-point shooting team, but sometimes you've got to put the ball on the floor and attack the paint."

Game 3 goes Saturday at Quicken Loans Arena.