Chicago Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky told NFL Network on Wednesday that the team used Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith's blunder in Game 1 of the NBA Finals as a teaching moment for clock management.
"We actually watched that the next day as a team and tried to learn from the situation," Trubisky told NFL Network's Andrew Siciliano and Stacey Dales. "I was having a hard time watching it twice again, but it just goes to show you everyone gets caught up in the moment even if it's the biggest of lights. But you always have to know the situation, so take advantage of it."
Smith's gaffe will go down in sports infamy. After securing a rebound late in a tie game, Smith, who thought the Cavaliers were winning, chose to kill the clock instead of trying for the win. The game went to overtime and Cleveland lost, 124-114.
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It especially hits home forTrubisky; the Cavaliers are his hometown team.
Former coach John Fox didn't exactly shine when it came to clock management, and rookie coach Matt Nagy has yet to be tested in that department with the pressure of an NFL Sunday on his shoulders.
Hopefully, the magnitude of Smith's mistake will deter the Bears -- both players and coaches alike -- from wandering down that path of disgrace.