I just think it's funny that Haslem said "rap sheet" when looking back on past fouls/fines.

Just rewatched that mess. This series is one shoulder away from being a "Rudy T face smash fest" pretty soon.
Stephenson may be a dick, but there is a difference in trash talk, and trash play.

The events of that game are just weird. Pre-game, all the talk was about Lebron and DWade (the scumbag who lowered a shoulder into defenseless Darren Collison's back) dogging Granger's antics about getting in their face and trying to be tough.

And then that game happens, where it's a bunch of cheap shots by cowardly Heat players trying to appear tough. The Heat players are trash, starting with DWade on down.

Stuff like this makes me appreciate hockey and baseball. You pull a stunt like that in the NHL, you ****ing KNOW the goon line is coming off the other bench to put a beatdown on your superstar. You do something stupid in the MLB, your best player is going to be ducking the next time he comes to the plate. Some suspensions might be doled up, but unless what you do is absolutely vicious (see Bertuzzi) it's not going to be anything too long.

In either of those sports, you likely would have never seen Pittman's cheap-shot, because the Heat would have known what would be coming.

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You pull a stunt like that in the NHL, you ****ing KNOW the goon line is coming off the other bench to put a beatdown on your superstar.

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Isn't that what happened?

Stephenson made fun of LeBron being a choker. Pittman, the resident goon that has logged 3 minutes in the previous 10 games, comes in and throws an intentional elbow into the windpipe of Stephenson.

That's pretty much a NHL-style beatdown.

^Basically. Stephenson is a bum. He did the choke sign and got into with a Juwan Howard, one of the oldest players in the league and by most accounts, one of the most liked in the locker room.

They sent Dexter Pittman out there in garbage time to dole out the comeuppance.

yup...as I said on the last page, I kinda liked the Haslem foul because it was an acknowledgment on both sides that they were even after Hansborough's foul on Wade just prior. Haslem didn't try to hurt him, he just went to even things up.

However, I will not condone Pittman's play, even though that was also in a sense "getting even" with a very big dbag in stevenson...because Pittman's could have very easily been very dangerous. That was ridiculous.

Haslem was throwing at a batter in his side. Pittman was throwing at his head.

Or, as Soup said...Haslem would be baseball, Pittman was NHL.

[This message has been edited by Bunk Moreland (edited 5/23/2012 2:24p).]

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He did the choke sign and got into with a Juwan Howard, one of the oldest players in the league and by most accounts, one of the most liked in the locker room.

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Juwan Howard being no stranger to trash talk, cheap shots or dirty play, himself.

Howard went out of his way to go start something with Stephenson in the shoot around. Stephenson is a dbag, but he was just shooting with his teammates when Howard went over and got in his face.

[This message has been edited by Guitarsoup (edited 5/23/2012 2:28p).]

Making a choking motion is hardly worthy of a physical act like that. But intentionally decking a player like that is definitely enough to warrant reciprocation, and reciprocation always comes back to the stars (especially with Pittman likely to be suspended). It'll be interesting to see the leagues reaction if something like that happens - you can be sure they'll be ejected on the spot, for one.

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Isn't that what happened?

Stephenson made fun of LeBron being a choker. Pittman, the resident goon that has logged 3 minutes in the previous 10 games, comes in and throws an intentional elbow into the windpipe of Stephenson.

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I don't really think it's equitable. Some end-bencher making a choking sign requiring a retaliatory hitman speaks to the mental fragility of your star player. It's a disproportionate response.

And if you're going to do it, send him out the next game. Not three games later after your two stars were whining in the press about someone doing something as dastardly as "getting in their face".

Judge - That was the first time Stephenson has played since the choking sign. So it was the first chance BronBron had to send in the hitman on him.

Valid point. Still seems ridiculous to make amends for that after several games had passed. Kinda speaks to the validity of the gesture if it was still in Bron's mind.

I have no doubt it is still in Bron's mind even after the retaliation.

Now the real question is - did LeBron put a price out on laying out Stephenson? He could get suspended a year if Goodell has anything to say about it!

Does anyone think that Pittman is going to pay his own fine for sticking up for Bron?

Pittman got 3 game suspension

That must mean they protected Haslem.

Not enough.

How many games for Haslem?

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That must mean they protected Haslem.

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Not sure it means that. Simple just saw the tweet from Woj, which doesn't mention Haslem.

Haslem's should be at least upgraded to Flag2 and get 1 game + fine.

No word on Haslem

ESPN's 5 on 5 - the only person that didn't say Haslem should be suspended is that total ****tard Israel Gutierrez. Easily the dumbest person employed by ESPN, which says a lot.

Haslem suspended game 6. Hansborough upgraded to F2, no suspension

Justice.

Now the Pacers need to take advantage. If Hibbert doesn't have a monster game, the Pacers deserve to go home. They quit halfway through the third quarter last night. Terrible.

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Israel Gutierrez

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Oh, the Miami reporter doesn't think Haslem should be suspended? I'm so surprised.

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Oh, the Miami reporter doesn't think Haslem should be suspended? I'm so surprised.

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The same guy that thought the Clippers would beat SA.

Also the same dip sheet who thought the Lakers would beat the Thunder.

I started to think he was simplebay for a while there.

So if Haslem had initially been given a flagrant 2, which was an obvious easy call, then he would have been ejected and then probably not suspended right?

I was wondering the same thing. Obviously we may never know, unless Stu Jackson comes right out and says it.

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Pittman got 3 game suspension

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That's a joke...his cheap shot was equally as egregious as MWP's was on Harden and his vacation should have been at least as long.

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That's a joke...his cheap shot was equally as egregious as MWP's was on Harden and his vacation should have been at least as long.

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As far as we know, Pittman has never gone into the stands to fight a fan nor has he applied to work at Circuit City for a 10% discount.

3 is a little weak. I think 5 was appropriate. History adds games.

I agree Pittman got off easy, but as easy as they let off Artest a few weeks ago, 3 is really all they could justify without showing a huge pro-LAL bias.

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That's a joke...his cheap shot was equally as egregious as MWP's was on Harden and his vacation should have been at least as long.

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As far as we know, Pittman has never gone into the stands to fight a fan nor has he applied to work at Circuit City for a 10% discount.

3 is a little weak. I think 5 was appropriate. History adds games.

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True enough, but if that elbow is a few inches higher, it's at lower head level...catching him square in the throat was bad enough. A suspension for the rest of this series and the first 4 of their next series (assuming they advance...if not, start it at the beginning of next regular season) seems appropriate. So, I guess in reality we're not that far apart. That would have been either 5 or 6 games.

David West and Thab, erm, Hibbert should get a lot of touches...Joel Anthony is a good defender, I figure Juwan Howard gets more minutes, but if the Pacers have a decided post advantage. Hopefully they can send this back to Miami.

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So it was the first chance BronBron had to send in the hitman on him.

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As usual, folks never miss an opportunity to blame Lebron for something.

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So it was the first chance BronBron had to send in the hitman on him.
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As usual, folks never miss an opportunity to blame Lebron for something.

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+1 THIS.

+2

Do you guys seriously not believe that was not a retaliation hit? Bron may not have put a bounty on him, but there is no doubt in my mind that it was in retaliation for the choking thing.

19 seconds left in a blow out and Stephenson is playing for the first time since making fun of BronBron and Bron's buddy elbows him in the throat.

Come on.