Oh, J.R. Smith, what are we ever going to do with you? Before Game 1 of the NBA Finals, Golden State was so heavily favored to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers, bookies gave the Warriors -750 odds, meaning gamblers would have to wager $7.50 just to win a single dollar back.
And yet there was Cleveland with a chance to steal Game 1 thanks to Smith’s rebound four feet from the rim and a shot at a game-winning putback as time expired.
You’ve seen the replay of what Smith did instead by now: He dribbled the clock out like a fool. Golden State won the game in overtime. America collectively shakes its head.
Just how badly did Smith screw up? Let’s put it in context with other championship-round gaffes, starting at least severe and careening to most cringeworthy.
Leon Lett’s Super Bowl fumble
The Cowboys came up with a strip-sack late in Super Bowl XXVII against the Buffalo Bills and Lett, a defensive lineman, scooped up the loose ball and ran footloose and fancy free toward the end zone. But he slowed up to celebrate upon approaching the goal line and Buffalo’s Don Beebe knocked the ball out of his hands at the two yard-line. It rolled through the end zone for a touchback.
It’s a horrifically embarrassing play for Lett, one of two fumbles that still define his 11-year career. But the Cowboys were up big at the time and the play didn’t affect the outcome of the game.
Fred Brown’s pass to James Worthy
Georgetown and North Carolina went down to the wire in the 1982 college basketball national championship game. Michael Jordan hit a jump shot with 15 seconds to put the Tar Heels up, 63-62. Fred Brown, the Hoyas point guard, rushed the ball down court and faked a pass to the wing that drew North Carolina’s James Worthy out of position. But it also confused Brown, who threw a chest pass directly to Worthy, who ran the clock out.
Chris Webber’s timeout
Another great break for North Carolina, this time in the 1993 college basketball national championship. With the Tar Heels up two with 15 seconds left, Chris Webber grabbed a rebound for Michigan and dribbled directly into the teeth of North Carolina’s defense. He panicked and called timeout when the Wolverines didn’t have any remaining, the penalty for which was two free throws for North Carolina, plus the ball. The play continues to haunt Michigan basketball.
Through Billy Buckner’s legs
Even if Boston’s first baseman had fielded Mookie Wilson’s slow-rolling groundball in the 10th inning of Game 6 the 1986 World Series, the game was tied and would have rolled into the 11th. But instead, the ball scooted through Billy Buckner’s legs and the winning run scored.
J.R. Smith?
This spot in the rankings should tell you how severely J.R. Smith screwed up. Cleveland is such an underdog in this series that stealing Game 1 on the road would have turned the entire NBA Finals on its head. Let’s recount all the things Smith could have done, but didn’t do: SHOOT THE BALL immediately upon getting the rebound, pass the ball to a wide open LeBron James at the top of the key, call timeout, take a three-pointer, pass to a wide open Jeff Green on the wing.
Smith, of course, did none of these things, and in the process wasted a 51-point outing from James and spoiled Cleveland’s best shot at a road win.
Jackie Smith’s Super Bowl drop
The difference in Super Bowl XIII was that the Cowboys settled for a field goal instead of a touchdown on one scoring drive against the Steelers. Why were they forced into that field goal? Jackie Smith’s infamous drop. On third down and three from the 10 yard-line, Roger Staubach had Smith wide open in the middle of the end zone. Maybe Smith was too wide open. He couldn’t haul in the pass. Dallas took three points. Pittsburgh won the game, 35-31.
The Seattle nightmare
Super Bowl XLIX. Seahawks’ ball on New England’s one yard-line. Twenty-five seconds. Running back Marshawn Lynch in the game. Instead, a pass play, a brilliant read from the Patriots’ Malcolm Bulter and an interception some call the greatest play in NFL history and some call the worst.
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Box score: Warriors 124, Cavaliers 114 (OT) | NBA Finals schedule