Fansided

J.R. Smith suspended two games for Jae Crowder foul

By Josh Hill

Mar 15, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith (5) reacts after he made a three pointer against the Orlando Magic during the first quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 15, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith (5) reacts after he made a three pointer against the Orlando Magic during the first quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Cleveland Cavaliers knew that J.R. Smith was going to be suspended, and the final punishment was handed down on Monday afternoon. 

When the Cleveland Cavaliers bounced the Boston Celtics out of the playoffs on Sunday afternoon, they largely did it without J.R. Smith. While Kevin Love was out for most of the contest due to injury, J.R. Smith was out for very different reasons as he was booted from the contest after cold clocking Jae Crowder.

It was a stupid move by Smith that was clearly a retaliation for Kevin Love being injured earlier in the contest and it’s now going to cost the Cavaliers in the long run.

After the game, Smith tried to claim his innocence in the whole matter but more and more information that has surfaced since Sunday that seems to suggest it wasn’t as accidental as it may have seemed. Smith was ‘nervous as hell’ about a possible suspension from the NBA and on Monday afternoon he learned what his fate would be.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are more than likely going to be playing the Chicago Bulls in the next round and they very well could get into a hole thanks to the situation they’re in entering that series. The best case scenario, especially when it comes to Kevin Love and his shoulder, would be for the Milwaukee Bucks to extend their series against Chicago for as long as they can.

If that series goes a full seven games, the Cavaliers will have the maximum amount of time to rest up and heal. The chances that the Bulls lose again to the Bucks — at home — is unlikely, and the Cavaliers are going to have to dig themselves out of the hole they’ve placed themselves in after an ugly Game 4 against Boston.

Cleveland only has themselves to lame for the situation they’re in, and we will see if this team truly has what it takes to be a real contender as they face the biggest and toughest test of their season so far.

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