Stephen A. Smith Challenges NBA Player To Play Through Injury

Smith mistakenly cited the Game 1 stats when noting that Pacers guards Tyrese Haliburton and Andrew Nembhard combined to register 45 points, 19 assists, and one turnover on Tuesday night. The ESPN pundit said Donovan Mitchell "needs help" from a true point guard after notching 48 points in Game 2's loss.

Smith urged Garland to wear a bigger shoe or extra padding to get on the court.

"Now you missed four straight games, Darius Garland. I mean, damn, you got all offseason to heal," Smith continued. "Somehow, some way. I mean, you're on the brink of elimination. You got to get out there. You got to find a way. Limp your a** out there no matter which way you got to do it."

After Game 1's loss, Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson said Garland was "desperate to play." While acknowledging how much the team misses his speed and shot-making, he didn't want to rush back the 25-year-old if Garland isn't ready to compete at a high level.

"We don't want him out 60 percent, 50 percent. Not with the way they're pressuring the ball," Atkinson said. "It just doesn't make sense. We obviously need him."

Meanwhile, Smith probably would have gone on a tirade blasting Garland if he played ineffectively through pain.

It's obviously reckless to tell an injured player to play injured without knowing what they're experiencing. Yet the Cavs could be in trouble if Garland doesn't return for Game 3 this Friday night at Indiana.