The talk of the town after Game 1 of the 2018 NBA Finals is J.R. Smith's blunder in the clutch. Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr shared his thoughts, noting that it reminded him of a similar play in the past involving Derek Harper, per Anthony Slater of The Athletic.
“Reminded me of a play — I'm a basketball junkie — Derek Harper dribbles the clock out for Dallas…We got lucky.”
Steve Kerr on the JR blunder: "Reminded me of a play — I'm a basketball junkie — Derek Harper dribbles the clock out for Dallas…We got lucky."
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) June 1, 2018
Kerr knew that if Smith just had a better presence of mind, the Cleveland Cavaliers would've gotten a timeout and set up a game-winning play. But as he said, they got lucky.
The Warriors got another shot at overtime — an opportunity they didn't take for granted. They scored 17 points in overtime, compared to just seven for the Cavaliers.
After the big mistake by Smith, the Cavaliers were obviously disheveled. The energy they poured throughout the game was seemingly swept away come extra session.
James topped all scorers with 51 points. He also chipped in eight rebounds and eight assists. Kevin Love had a quiet 21 points and 13 rebounds. He also drained one 3-pointer.
For the Warriors, Stephen Curry scored 29 points. He also shot 45.5 percent from downtown or 5-for-11. His Splash Brother Klay Thompson also had a good game with 24 points. He also drained five 3-pointers out of 10 attempts.
Smith's mistake will be talked about in the years to come. It will be a difficult task to move on from that mental breakdown. But he must take Kerr's word for it. Maybe it was just the Warriors' night. They just got lucky.
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