Stephen A. Smith apologizes to Canada for predicting Cavs sweep of Raptors

Stephen A. Smith apologized to the people of Canada for slighting the Toronto Raptors in their Eastern Conference Finals series against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

A far as apologies go it was insipid.

Last night ESPN journalist and NBA analyst Stephen A. Smith went on air and offered a lackluster apology for not giving the Raptors enough credit for their stellar series thus far against the much favoured Cavs.

Smith never said those words exactly but maybe he should have because that would have been a legit apology. Instead, he was puzzled by Lowry and DeRozan’s dominance.

Smith’s intentions were initially admirable.

"“I got to be a man of my word and just apologize to Canada, all Canadians everywhere,” he said."

But then what followed didn’t really feel like an apology at all really.

"“Kyle Lowry was absolutely unstoppable tonight. I don’t understand why. DeMar DeRozan was unstoppable when it counted. I don’t understand why, considering that LeBron James had been on him a couple of times. I can’t understand what’s happened to Cleveland right now.”"

The sort-of-apology shouldn’t come as a surprise to Raptors fans. Before the series started, Smith said on ESPN’s First Take that “this matchup is a nightmare for the Toronto Raptors”.

“You got a situation where guys are demoralized because they are missing shots. You got guys that are on the court literally feeling absolutely, positively helpless. Because they don’t have the personnel.”  Stephen A. Smith on ESPN’s First Take.

It’s clear Smith doesn’t want the Raptors to win. Here’s more proof. Two days ago when asked if he saw this coming – the Raptors winning two games at home – all Smith could say was that he thought “a sweep was imminent.”

Smith has also described the Raptors as undermanned, undersized and the Cavs are too big, too athletic, too long and too strong for Toronto.

Whatever Smith thinks of the Raptors, some fans took to Twitter to vent their feelings about the dreary and lifeless apology.

And as far as predictions go, it seems Smith is miles off. He’s had to change his opinion about the Cavs-Raptors series a handful of times. At first, he thought a sweep to the Cavs was probable, then a 4-1 win to the Cavs and then the Cavs winning in six.

We look forward to Smith’s next apology if the Raptors beat the Cavs in seven games.

For more coverage of the playoffs check out our NBA Playoffs hub page.