JR Smith's embarrassment is Sixers' gain

Share

As a human being, you sort of feel for JR Smith.

The blunder he made, on one of the biggest stages in sports, doesn't get much more embarrassing or egregious.

With Game 1 of the NBA Finals tied at 107-107 and 4.7 seconds left in regulation, the Cavaliers' shooting guard grabbed a rebound off a missed free throw by his own teammate George Hill. Instead of putting up a quick shot from in close or calling a timeout, Smith booked it the other way toward half court.

If you haven't seen the play from Thursday's game, you can watch it here. But chances are you've already watched it more than once because it's been played and mocked just about everywhere.

But Sixers fans probably don't feel too bad.

Because if anything, the possibility of some LeBron James sweepstakes this offseason increased when the clock hit zero on the Warriors' 124-114 OT victory over the Cavaliers.

Or even the second the befuddled Smith looked at the irritated James, who has the option to opt out of his contract this summer and become a free agent.

"I truly believe if he was considering staying, I think this helps — somebody just unlocked the door and he's going to maybe walk through that door now," NBC Sports Philadelphia's Sixers analyst Marc Jackson said Friday on Philly Sports Talk. "He may be out of here just from that because he knows that's what he has to work with."

He'd have a lot to work with if he came to the Sixers.

"He knows he'll have the personnel to go further rather than him averaging 50, 20 and 20," Jackson said.

James carrying this underwhelming Cavaliers roster has been well publicized from the second half of the season through the playoffs.

Look at the postseason statistics:

Include Smith's brain cramp and James' frustration may be only growing. After all, James had a 51-point, eight-rebound, eight-assist performance go to waste in large part because of Smith's mental lapse.

"Man up and say, 'I made a terrible mistake that might of prevented us from winning this series,'" Jackson said. "Because you had a chance to steal that game on Golden State's home court.

"I felt bad because I was teammates with JR with the Hornets.

"He's a very athletic guy that can shoot the ball, but his engagement into the game and giving it all to the game has always been questioned."

The latest incident could have the King questioning his next move.

Contact Us