By NBA Analysis Network,Pocholo Magsino

Copyright yardbarker

Shumpert knew he had to play the best defense he could

As a physical defender, Shumpert was a valuable asset for the Cavaliers. They needed someone who would not have any issues with getting physical against stars like Curry and Thompson.

During that era, Curry and Thompson were hard to defend, considering they were constantly running off screens. Shumpert had the right physical profile, but he was also superb with his approach to games against a “better” team.

Shumpert did not care about what people thought of him, so he reveled in playing physical defense against the Splash Brothers. That made him one of the most important players on the Cavaliers outside the star trio of James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love.

“People thought we were punking ’em. No, it was a real strategy. You can find plays of Klay grabbing my face like get off me,” Shumpert said on All In to Zach Randolph and Tony Allen.

“I blew my other assignments because I’m not letting ’em get a shot off. The danger I felt if I lost them was like no one else… I never felt I was in danger if I could see him, that’s why I got Steph and why I got Klay.”