Free agent shooting guard JR Smith recently held a Q&A on his instagram story, during which he addressed numerous basketball-related topics, including which teams he thinks will play for the 2020 NBA Championship. Smith's Western Conference pick won't be a surprise but he did make a bold Eastern Conference selection, writing, "Lakers and Miami. Call me crazy but [shrug emoji]."
The Lakers (44-12) currently hold the best record out West by a margin of five games. The Heat, meanwhile, rank fourth in the Eastern Conference with a record of 36-21.
Elsewhere during the Q&A Smith was specifically asked about potentially joining those Lakers or the Los Angeles Clippers. Contrary to reports, Smith claims the Lakers still have not reached out despite the fact that (in his own words) "I'm still better than 85% of the players on the court." It had previously been reported that Smith was expected to receive "an audition" with the team, but they make be moving towards Dion Waiters instead.
Smith, 34, appeared in just 11 games for the Cleveland Cavaliers last season before hitting the free agent market, where he has remained ever since. During five seasons with the Cavs, he averaged 10.3 points per game while shooting 40% from the field and 38% from behind the arc.
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Raptors’ Masai Ujiri Sued By Oakland Police Officer Over Alleged Assault
Police officer launches lawsuit against Ujiri stemming from NBA Finals altercation.
Toronto Raptors President Masai Ujiri has reportedly been sued by an Oakland police officer, who claims that Ujiri assaulted him following Toronto's NBA Finals victory over the Golden State Warriors. According to The Toronto Star, sheriff's deputy Alan Strickland alleges that Ujiri struck him in the face and chest at Oracle Arena on June 13, 2019, after Strickland demanded to see Ujiri's on-court access credentials.
According to the report, the lawsuit states that Ujiri's alleged actions were "foreseeable" based on "previous altercations involving similar circumstances." In addition to Ujiri, the Toronto Raptors, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment and the NBA were named in the suit for failing to warn the plaintiff of Ujiri's "violent predisposition" and "propensity for physical violence prior to his assault on Strickland."
Per The Toronto Star:
"The suit, which seeks medical expenses, lost wages and other damages, also accuses the defendants of failing to "provide adequate safety and security to the public" and "failing to post signs warning of danger, including the danger of Masai Ujiri."
Back in October, prosecutors in California announced that no official charges would be filed again Masai, but it appears Strickland is determined to get some money out of the whole ordeal. Check out footage from the incident in question below.
Tyronn Lue Tells Intense LeBron James Story From The 2016 Finals
Lue knew how to get under LeBron’s skin.
LeBron James had an interesting relationship with his Cleveland Cavaliers head coach, Tyronn Lue. At times, the two seemed to be at odds but in the end, they were a match made in heaven. The two eventually won a championship together back in 2016 when LeBron came back from 3-1 down against the Golden State Warriors. It was a series to remember that will forever be cemented in NBA history as one of the best Finals series ever.
In a recent article from Joe Vardon of The Athletic, Lue spoke about his time with the Cavaliers and divulged on an incredible story from Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals. As Lue explained, LeBron got heated during halftime as Lue told him he needed to be better.
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“You gotta guard Draymond Green, stop turning the ball over, be aggressive, shoot the ball, be aggressive,” Lue said. “And I walked into the coach’s office. And this is what everybody told me. He grabbed (Damon Jones) and said, ‘Man, your boy’s trippin.’ And D. Jones said, ‘I’ve been in the G League, I haven’t been here all year, but everything I read in the paper about how much you trust T. Lue, how much you love T. Lue as a coach, why not trust him now?’”
Lue said LeBron had a similar sentiment for James Jones who agreed with Lue’s assessment.
“And then he went out and dominated the second half,” Lue said. “After the game, ’Bron said to me, ‘You know how to push my buttons, don’t you?’” “Yeah, motherf***er,” LeBron quipped back.
If it weren’t for Ty Lue’s button-pushing, who knows what would have happened in the second half? Maybe LeBron wouldn’t have that third ring.
