Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith inexplicably threw a spinning back fist against Jae Crowder while trying to box him out in Game 4, causing the forward to fall and sprain his knee in the process. If you missed it, here’s the clip:
Smith claimed that the hit was unintentional after the game, but that’s pretty hard to believe, given that he swung as hard as he could backwards with a closed fist. What did he think was going to happen when he did what he did with Crowder draped all over him from the back in an attempt to grab an offensive rebound?
The league reviewed the situation and determined that Smith would be suspended for two games, which seems to be on the light side given the offense. Once the news came out, Smith had the following reaction:
Not the player I want to be not the player I want my teammates an family to see not the person I want… https://t.co/zNF3phrA5M
— JR Smith (@TheRealJRSmith) April 28, 2015
No apology to Crowder was included in the message, in case you were wondering.
As for the two-game suspension, the always-controversial Matt Barnes saw the verdict and was less than thrilled:
Not a knock on Jr cause he’s the homie, but I get 1game for pushing someone! Let me take a swing w/a closed fist. NBA picks & chooses #joke — Matt Barnes (@Matt_Barnes22) April 27, 2015
We both have a history, so come up with another excuse!!
— Matt Barnes (@Matt_Barnes22) April 27, 2015
Dnt get me wrong I wanna see Jr help his team, specially considering it’s the playoffs. I’m using him as an example its not directed at him — Matt Barnes (@Matt_Barnes22) April 27, 2015
Barnes has a point here: if he threw that same shot at Kawhi Leonard or Danny Green against the San Antonio Spurs, he would more than likely receive a heftier punishment. Unfortunately for him, the league is probably not going to provide him with any answers.
Jim Park is a blogger and editor of Sheridan Hoops. Follow him on twitter @SheridanBlog.
Erika Wooten says
They are both thugs. I thought the best players on a team were supposed to make other players better. Apparently it didn’t work with these two