NBA Playoffs 2012: Dirty Play Is Nothing We Haven't Seen Before
The NBA Playoffs has and will always be a safe haven for pro basketball fans.
There, will you not only find the game's biggest stars, but you will see some of the greatest individual performances—producing some of the greatest games in the history of professional sports.
Unfortunately, you will also find a dark side to the NBA Playoffs too: physical play.
During the regular season the NBA game is more fluid as a more wide-open style is played. Come playoff time the pace is much slower and more physical, as teams rely more on precision than showmanship.
The old adage, "Offense sells tickets, but defense wins championships," is a standard throughout the playoffs. With that proverbial being true, playoff basketball is totally different from the regular season.
Because teams take on a more defensive-mindset in the playoffs, the game is slower, scoring is much lower and players are more physical; which often will result in a few altercations. And because of the rough-house tactics being used, you will see players retaliate at times.
Retaliation schemes are nothing new. Teammates will sometimes sacrifice themselves to come to the rescue of a teammate who is being bullied.
That is the case in the 2012 Eastern Conference semifinal between the Miami Heat and the Indiana Pacers.
The Heat lead the best-of-seven series three games to two, but Miami has been in a dogfight with Indiana. Both teams have been engaged in both physical and verbal confrontations throughout the series.
In Game 5 on Tuesday night, tempers flared as several skirmishes broke out. Three flagrant fouls were called in the contest—a game in which Miami won 115-83.
The first infraction happened in the second quarter when Heat superstar Dwyane Wade drove to the basket. Wade was attempting a shot when he was met by Pacers reserve forward Tyler Hansbrough. Hansbrough delivered a blow to the face of Wade—opening a gash on his forehead.
Although it appeared Hansbrough was making a play on the ball, the vicious blow left Wade bloodied. Hansbrough was assessed with a flagrant-one foul. He was not ejected from the game.
Moments later, Miami's Udonis Haslem retaliated against Hansbrough by delivering a devastating blow across his head with both arms. The play invoked an image of a MMA-style fighting move.
Haslem was hit with a flagrant-one foul during the game. Even though Haslem was not ejected from the game, on Wednesday, the NBA office later changed the infraction to a flagrant-two foul after reviewing game footage. The move by the NBA means that Haslem will miss Game 6 Thursday night because of a one-game suspension.
Later in the fourth quarter with the Heat ahead comfortably, Heat second-year center Dexter Pittman elbowed Pacers' reserve guard Lance Stephenson in the neck area while the two were jostling for a rebound.
Pittman's action appeared to be malicious, as it appeared he did not make a move to the ball and intentionally hit Stephenson. However, Pittman was not ejected from the game, as officials gave him a flagrant-one violation.
Like Haslem, the league upgraded the foul to a flagrant-two and Pittman was given a three-game suspension meaning he will miss both Game 6 and 7 (if any), and, either Game 1 or 2 of the Eastern Conference finals if the Heat win Game 6.
Pittman's physical confrontation with Stephenson appeared to be retribution. Stephenson has been involved in several verbal spats with Heat players in the series.
In Indiana's 94-75 Game 3 blowout victory, Stephenson gave Miami superstar LeBron James the choke-hold sign after James missed a free throw. Before Game 4, Stephenson and Miami's Juwan Howard had to be separated during pregame warmups.
All in all, both Miami and Indiana are playing a physical brand of basketball that is normal come playoff time. Throughout playoff history there has been several clashes amongst players. I'll never forget the 1984 NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers.
In Game 4, Los Angeles forward Kurt Rambis was driving for an uncontested layup when the Celtics' Kevin McHale clotheslined Rambis in mid-air. Rambis violently crashed to the floor, as both benches emptied.
The play of McHale seemed to ignite Boston as they won that game to even the series at two-apiece. They later went on to win the title in seven games.
Although the NBA is nothing compared to the National Hockey League—where physical play is the norm. The NBA will every now-and-then take on the surrogate name "basketbrawl."
"Basketbrawl" is frowned upon by true basketball aficionados. It takes away the natural beauty of the sport. However, fans should not ever be surprised when a physical encounter breaks out. Regardless of what sport is being played, there will always be confrontations.
Major League Baseball and the NFL have had their share of player disputes, but somehow people tend to easily forget about the encounters. However, when it comes to the NBA, everything gets blown out of proportion when dirty play is being highlighted.
Real NBA fans understand and realize that dirty play is all part of the game.
