Andrew Bogut Questions J.R. Smith's Actions During Play He Was Injured

Golden State Warriors center Andrew Bogut said Thursday he's unsure if J.R. Smith's actions on the collision that ended his season were a basketball play or something more sinister.    

"I don't know how he fell and all that, but tough for interpretation," Bogut said, per Diamond Leung of the Bay Area News Group.

An MRI revealed Bogut suffered two bone bruises after Smith came crashing down on his left knee in the third quarter of the Warriors' 112-97 loss in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Monday. He is out for the remainder of the Finals and has an expected recovery time of six to eight weeks.

"I blocked his shot," Bogut said. "Somehow he cannon-balled right into my shin with his shoulder. It was painful."

The play itself was a bit clumsy. Smith drove past Harrison Barnes and attempted a floater over Bogut, whose body flailed in Smith's direction as he came over to block the shot. Smith landed on Bogut's right foot and began crouching down as Bogut fell on top of him, causing the Cavs guard to come down on the Australian's buckling left leg.

“I injured him?” Smith asked, per Marc Berman of the New York Post. “So it’s my fault? I was trying to go up; he blocked my shot. I fell slow to the ground, and he went down. It’s a basketball play. It’s not like I’m out there trying to take his legs out.”

The referees didn't call a foul on either player, and the NBA did not review the matter. Bogut's comments sound more like he's taking out his frustrations at not being able to play. The whole play was awkward—from Smith's drive, all the way to the block and the foul. Nothing in the play happened at full speed, and Smith seems to be merely protecting his body on replay.

Bogut started all 22 of the Warriors' postseason games before the injury. He hasn't played much of a factor in the series offensively, scoring a total of 16 points through five games (none in the last two). However, his five blocks in 15 minutes of action in Game 2 were paramount to the Warriors setting a tone in their dominant 110-77 win.

Warriors head coach Steve Kerr has not said who will start at center in Thursday's Game 6 in Cleveland.