J.R. Smith Says “We All Make Mistakes”

Cleveland Cavaliers forward J.R. Smith says he has left his NBA finals gaffe behind. With the start of the NBA preseason, all eyes will again be on the Cavaliers roster.

J.R. Smith says that he won’t let his mistake follow him into the new season, in spite of being blamed for the loss. As the Golden State Warriors swept the Cleveland Cavaliers, J.R. Smith made a big error in Game 1.

For those who didn’t see the coverage or the memes, let us remind you. Smith had the chance for a steal in the dying seconds of the game. He received an offensive rebound in the dying seconds. Rather than putting up a shot, he dribbled away from the basket and the clock ran out on the Cavaliers.

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In the age of social media and constant sports coverage, judgement is brutal. This is something that Smith discovered, not for the first time in his career. The mistake was turned into a meme and replayed over and over again.

The 33 year old admits that the criticism got to him, but he took comfort from his teammates and coaches.

“It was tough, but it was the same after Game 2, 3 and 4. I didn’t take it no harder than those losses just because I made a mistake,” Smith said. “We all make mistakes.

“For my teammates to know that and have my back, [Game 1] wasn’t that bad. Talked to my coaches, everybody stood behind me 100 percent.

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“I mean, it’s an honest mistake,” he added. “People make mistakes all the time.”

Smith’s career has been punctuated by a series of high profile brain-farts. After his latest, his attitude is that his experience can help the younger members of the Cavaliers roster.

“More than anything, I want to help the younger guys,” Smith says. “More than [a few] guys helped me when I was coming up, you know? Help them with managing time. Most often, basketball will take care itself. You got talent, you got skill, that will take care of its own. But, just off the court, you know? Managing time, teaching the rights from wrongs.”