The Miami Heat-Indiana Pacers game Tuesday night left Roy Hibbert feeling as if LeBron James and Dwyane Wade had an NFL-like bounty system of their own.
The scene was absolutely horrid in Game 5. With the Pacers down by 35, Dexter Pittman of the Heat dealt out the most blatant of cheap shots on Indiana’s Lance Stephenson. And then he winked.
Sadly, this wasn’t the first display of unsportsmanlike conduct for this game. Tyler Hansbrough and Udonis Haslem were fouling hard all night, but it was Pittman, a less than marginal role player, who really put this series in perspective.
Especially for Hibbert.
After the game, the Pacers’ center took a cheap shot of his own, verbally, at James and Wade.
From Alex Kennedy of Hoopsworld via Twitter:
Roy Hibbert: “LeBron and D-Wade aren’t responding to our physical play. They’re sending other people to do it.”
That’s a strong accusation, one that could lead to a hellacious Game 6. But is it inaccurate?
Pittman’s cheap shot really leaves a bitter taste in the mouths of everyone who watches it. This game is meant to be played hard, but he sought out Stephson’s collar bone Metta World Peace style, and that’s inexcusable.
But was any of this really at the behest of James or Wade? The smart money says no, but you can’t help but shake the feeling they were indirectly involved to some degree.
Both players clearly are aware that they are above the NBA-law. James blatantly undercut Granger on a three-point attempt in this very game and not so much as a whistle was blown.
In all honesty,though, it’s highly unlikely Pittman acted on James’ and Wade’s orders, but this still comes back to them. As prolific and talented as these two stars are, and as genuine as they come across at times, they are entitled. They realize that they are given preferential treatment on the basketball court, to the point that they have come to expect it.
Rarely a whistle goes by that James and Wade will not argue, and while the common athlete would be called for a technical, these two aren’t. And apparently, this sense of entitlement and superiority is contagious.
First, Udonis Haslem fouls with reckless abandon, and then, Pittman wrecks Stephenson. These are not actions indicative of the mediocre type players that these two actually are, but of athletes who feel that they have a right to retribution.
The Pacers have played hard all series, but the Heat have responded by playing dirty. Now, after this latest display of despicableness, it has become clear that entitlement and ignorance are running rampant through South Beach.
And bounty or not, we have James and Wade to thank for that.
Dan Favale is a firm believer in the three-pointer as well as the notion that defense doesn’t always win championships. His musings can be found at Bleacherreport.com in addition to TheHoopDoctors.com. Follow @danfavale on Twitter for his latest posts and all things NBA.
