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SALT LAKE CITY — J.R. Smith stops defending to give a hug to an opponent on the bench, only to give up a dunk; Tom Brady pokes fun at himself; and a super fan travels over 7,000 miles to see Vince Carter. More fun stories in today’s From Left Field.
J.R. Smith stops defending to give hug to opponent, gives up dunk
Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith is one of the NBA’s most interesting personalities. From not wearing a shirt throughout the Cavs’ parade to purposely untying an opponent’s shoelaces mid-game, Smith is one of those players who marches to the beat of his own drum.
On Tuesday night, Smith’s march led him to greet an opponent on the bench … only to give up an easy dunk.
During the second quarter of Tuesday night’s Cavs game against the Milwaukee Bucks, Smith took a moment during a non-timeout stoppage of play to walk over to the Bucks' bench and greet Jason Terry.
But what Smith completely forgot was that it wasn’t a timeout and that play would quickly continue. The Bucks inbounded the ball and Tony Snell had the easy dunk.
J.R. Smith with that 🔒⬇️ defense. https://t.co/nCqFRtYb30 — SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 30, 2016
Seriously, J.R.? Even James Harden thinks that’s bad defense.
Cleveland went on to lose the game, 118-101.
We’ll surely be seeing this blunder by Smith on Inside the NBA’s “Shaqtin’ A Fool” this Thursday.
Bryant University basketball player, not realizing his team is down, dribbles out the clock
Many coaches in sports teach players the importance of clock awareness.
Maybe it’s time some coaches remind their players that scoreboard awareness should never be forgotten as well.
On Monday night, Bryant University went up one point with 11 seconds to go thanks to Nisre Zouzoua’s 3-pointer. Brown University’s Tavon Blackmon quickly went coast-to-coast for the layup with just under four seconds left.
With time left for one last shot, Bryant’s Ikenna Ndugba must’ve forgotten what the score was because he inexplicably decided to dribble out the clock. He even threw the ball up in the air — not toward the rim — as the buzzer sounded.
MBB: Tavon Blackmon scores the game-winning hoop w/ 3.8 seconds left to lift @BrownBasketball to a 91-90 win over Bryant! #GoBruno#IvyHoopspic.twitter.com/VpCi86OR3W — Brown Athletics (@BrownAthletics) November 29, 2016
At the end of the video, you can see Ndugba looking at the scoreboard, realizing the mistake he had committed.
A major brain cramp by Ndugba.
Tom Brady mocks his own lack of blocking abilities in video
This past Sunday, Tom Brady tied Peyton Manning for most victories in NFL history with 200. At 40, Brady is arguably the game’s most elite quarterback.
But one thing Brady has never and will never be elite at is blocking … and Brady knows this.
The four-time Super Bowl winner took to Facebook and posted a video displaying, or mocking, his blocking abilities.
Brady’s “blocking” looks like more like an elderly man running to catch a bus.
The monster trucks, Whitesnake playing in the background, etc. — oh Tom, you truly are terrific.
Super fan travels all the way from China to see Vince Carter
There are many things sports fans will do to see a favorite player live at a game.
Then there’s one Vince Carter fan that wasn’t going to let over 7,000 miles of distance stop her from seeing her idol in person.
On Nov. 18, the fan arrived in Dallas to see Carter and the Grizzlies play the Mavericks.
14 HOURS to see @mrvincecarter15 😱 Amazing. #GrindCitypic.twitter.com/pXZeMcbv8w — Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) November 19, 2016
On Monday night, the super fan attended Memphis’ home game and watched Carter play against the Charlotte Hornets. But this time, the fan was able to meet Carter and take a photo with him. Carter even gave the fan his headband as a souvenir.
The fan who traveled from China to see @mrvincecarter15 in Dallas also came to Memphis tonight. Vince told security to let her on the court. pic.twitter.com/2LKblcGiAX — Alexis Morgan (@alexiskmorgan) November 29, 2016
> When you travel 14 hours to see your idol, [@mrvincecarter15](https://twitter.com/mrvincecarter15), & then you meet him. [\#ThisIsWhyWePlay](https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThisIsWhyWePlay?src=hash) [pic.twitter.com/A7u2C6tcbu](https://t.co/A7u2C6tcbu) > > — Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) [November 29, 2016](https://twitter.com/memgrizz/status/803441785821245440)
Dreams do come true.
