NBA won’t suspend Thompson, Love
OAKLAND, Calif. — J.R. Smith’s blunder, a disputed replay overturn and a key missed free throw dealt the Cleveland Cavaliers an emotionally crushing loss in an opener of the NBA Finals that was ripe to be taken away from the defending champion Golden State Warriors.
They finally got a bit of good news during a day off Friday when the NBA determined that Cleveland big men Tristan Thompson and Kevin Love wouldn’t be suspended for Game 2 on Sunday night for their roles in a late-game brawl.
The incident started in the closing seconds of Cleveland’s 124-114 overtime loss Thursday night when Thompson was called for a flagrant 2 foul against Shaun Livingston. Thompson was ejected and then shoved the ball into Draymond Green’s face before leaving the court.
The NBA fined Thompson $25,000 for failing to leave the court in a timely fashion and for his interaction with Green but downgraded the foul to a flagrant 1.
Love left the bench to argue the flagrant call and was on the court when the altercation started. But the league determined he didn’t warrant a suspension because he returned to the bench immediately.
“I just think, especially when a game has been as hard-fought as that one, you don’t like to see emotions spilling over at the end,” commissioner Adam Silver said before executive vice president of basketball operations Kiki Vandeweghe announced the penalties.
Everyone is still trying to figure out what went on in the final minute of regulation in Game 1. It started after Lebron James converted a threepoint play to give Cleveland a 104102 lead with 50 seconds left.
James appeared to draw a charge on Durant. But officials went to the replay to see if James was in the restricted area, which would make it a block. While James was clearly outside the restricted area, officials also had the chance to review whether James was in legal guarding position and changed the call to a block because they determined he turned his body and moved into Durant.
Then the game really went off the rails when Hill was fouled with 4.6 seconds left and the Cavs trailing by one. He made the first free throw to tie it, missed the second.
Smith grabbed the offensive rebound, but instead of putting it back up or passing to an open James up top, he dribbled toward half court and threw a pass, running out the clock.
Coach Tyronn Lue said that Smith though the Cavs were ahead, although Smith said he knew the game was tied and was waiting for a timeout to be called. Lue said he talked to Smith about what happened, but wouldn’t give an explanation.
Lue expects a big bounce-back performance in Game 2.
“J.R. can shake off anything, and when everybody tends to count J.R. out, that’s when he comes through,” Lue said. “So he’s definitely going to start again. He’s a big part of what we do. That last play is over, it’s behind us, and now we’ve got to move on.” idols when I was young … (and) it was meaningful to hear what they have to say, because sometimes when you hear it from your mom or dad or that coach that you see every day, it doesn’t translate the same as if you hear it from somebody who has actually lived it.”
And Strug certainly has. She competed in her first Olympics at 14 and won a bronze medal.
Four years later, she was a crucial part of the Magnificent Seven. After falling on her first attempt on the vault and severely spraining her ankle and tearing two ligaments, she needed to nail her second attempt to secure a gold medal.
She did.
“I use my vault and my story to try to motivate other people,” Strug said. “I’ve learned over the years, and I talk about it, that sports really parallel life in many ways, and there’s some core values that are critical to being successful in whatever venue you hope to become successful in.”
Some of those, she said, include doing what’s required, leadership, trust, teamwork and perseverance.
“I think the general public associates me with that one vault,” Strug said. “But my gymnastics career started at the age of 3, and I went to an Olympic Games at the age of 14 and didn’t get what I wanted, and I used that as motivation to train for Atlanta. So that’s kind of what I’ll do is tell my story so kids realize if you don’t succeed at first, try, try again. I truly believe in that, and that’s kind of the values I’m trying to tell my kids.”
Strug has two children, Tyler, 6, and Alayna, 3. She has been working for the federal government since 2003, currently as a program manager for the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
She also has written multiple books, including an autobiography, and does speaking engagements across the country.
“It’ll be exciting to see these young athletes that have done well for themselves and their families,” Strug said. “I know what it’s like personally each step of the way when you reach different milestones.”
Strug said she’s looking forward to sharing her story and talking with the young athletes.
“These kids most likely (wouldn’t) be able to what they do and be successful if it weren’t for the sacrifices of their parents and coaches and teachers,” she said, “so it’s nice when there’s these big events to acknowledge the hard work and accomplishments.”
Contact Betsy Helfand at bhelfand@reviewjournal.com.
Follow @Betsyhelfand on Twitter.