Dexter Pittman's Cowardly Foul Proves Heat Aren't Focused on NBA Title

If you thought the Miami Heat hit an all-time low with Dwyane Wade's treatment of head coach Erik Spoelstra, you needed only wait a couple of more games to watch South Beach's sideshow get even uglier.

Regardless of how you feel about Udonis Haslem's flagrant foul against Indiana Pacers' power forward Tyler Hansbrough, Dexter Pittman's forearm to Lance Stephenson's neck was woefully unjustifiable by any metric (via AP Sports Writer Tim Reynolds):

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A series marked by some rough moments had perhaps its worst with 19.4 seconds remaining when Miami reserve center Dexter Pittman went across the lane to send a forearm into the chin area of Indiana’s Lance Stephenson — who made a choke sign toward James during the Pacers’ Game 3 win.

Pittman was caught on camera winking after the foul. Stephenson had X-rays for a possible collarbone problem, but wrote on Twitter two hours after the game that he was fine.

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Lance Stephenson may deserve a reality-check after the premature "choking" gesture he directed toward LeBron James in Game 3, but he didn't deserve to be attacked. The 32-point embarrassment of Stephenson's team should have been a more than adequate repercussion.

Of course, Pittman's thuggery was especially disappointing given that this game was as over as a game can possibly be until that final buzzer officially sounds.

It's one thing to play hard until the end of the game, but this was way beyond the scope of "playing hard." Pittman's move would have been uncalled for in a tied game–it's downright unthinkable in the waning moments of an epic blowout.

Then there was the wink.

Granted, Dexter Pittman doesn't get a lot of playing time–he's probably not used to having many cameras zooming in on his direction.

We would have all known Pittman's elbow was deliberate with or without that wink to be sure. But to put his malice on full display is somewhere between utterly moronic and egregiously classless.

The last thing this team needs is another distraction to derail its otherwise promising title odds.

There's no doubt about Miami's talent and determination, but we have seen Erik Spoelstra's club lose focus and look ever so mortal. If this club is serious about doing what it takes to win, it will move past these pedantic grudge-matches and keep its eyes on the prize.

Even if there's a time and place for Wild-West justice, there's also a place for professionalism. Pittman isn't doing his teammates any favors by undermining that cause.