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Playing for the Cavaliers in 2010, LeBron James puts his hand over his eye marking a 3-point shot by a teammate. While the Cavs and Heat are in Brazil this week, the teams have been advised to avoid this gesture because of its meaning in that country.

(John Kuntz, The Plain Dealer)

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – The gesture in the photo you see above this post is an absolute no-no.

Yes, in the United States, it's a hand gesture players often use after they have just knocked down a 3-pointer. James Harden of the Houston Rockets makes it a priority following his deep balls as well as many others.

It's a comical, entertaining way of reminding the fans of who just buried that trey. It's all in good fun.

Well, around here, that gesture is not a form of entertainment. In fact, it's the exact opposite.

Holding up the "three-sign" or the "three-goggles" in a certain way while in Brazil could be mistaken for "f--- you" or "f--- off," I was informed.

The NBA sent the Cavs and Heat a memo with a list of questionable gestures that shouldn't be used in Brazil, we're told. The last thing anybody wants is for the stands to clear immediately after a player nails a 3-pointer.

Can you imagine a player floating and waving the three-sign from one end of the court to the other? That wouldn't be good.

James Jones, the Cavaliers' 3-point marksman, says he was not made aware of the memo and knew nothing about the gesture being an insult in Brazil.

"Hey, that's why I just salute after I hit one," James said. "That's not offending anyone, right?"

I think you'll be fine, Jones.

So just for this weekend only, for everybody's safety including the media members in attendance, we have one request for the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Miami Heat on Saturday: Do a cartwheel after a made 3-pointer.