Australian basketball legend Chris Anstey has slammed Cleveland Cavaliers guard JR Smith, after his inexplicable play at the end of Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
With the Cavs and Golden State Warriors tied at 107, Cleveland guard George Hill missed a free throw with 4.7 seconds left.
Smith secured the rebound, but then dribbled the ball backwards, thinking his team was in the lead. It sent the game to overtime, where Golden State ran away with a 10-point win.
WOW. We're going to overtime. pic.twitter.com/1YNEniJo1d
— ESPN (@espn) June 1, 2018
“To have a brain fade, you need to have a brain,” Anstey told SEN Afternoons.
“LeBron James has put in a performance for the ages against all odds. He dragged his team on his back to be in a winning position in regulation time to beat the Golden State Warriors on their own floor…and JR Smith does that.
“You just need to know the score.
“People might forget about this, but I tell you who won’t forget? LeBron and his teammates.
“That’s just a demoralising error in an incredible game by the Cleveland Cavaliers.”
Game 2 of the series takes place on Monday at 10:00am AEDT.
Listen to Chris Anstey break down Game 1 of the NBA Finals on SEN Afternoons in the player below