Spoelstra fires back at NBA for perceived head hunting

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra says the NBA hasn’t done enough to protect Dwyane Wade and LeBron James against overly aggressive fouls to their heads.

Countering the NBA’s decision to suspend Udonis Haslem for Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Thursday night, Spoelstra directed strong words at the NBA for allowing opponents of the Heat to take dangerous shots at Miami’s best players. After reviewing film of nine playoff games, Spoelstra said he counted “over a dozen hard fouls” to the faces of Wade and James by the Knicks and Pacers.

“The league does not have a problem with hard fouls on our two main guys,” Spoelstra said. “Some of them of the tomahawk variety, some of them have drawn blood — they don’t have a problem with it, so we don’t have a problem with it.”

Comments

[Dashi]

Finally the MAN stands up for HIS Team. Hope he sent the tape to Stern. Good move SPO.

Let's go heat finish them with another blowout then celebrate at half-court like they did. Try and make it out alive.

I heard the refs will be handing the Pacers nightsticks before the game. watch out

[Mike]

You Miami fans need to watch the same game everyone else does.
The reason they don't call those fouls on James and Wade is that they don't call them against James and Wade. It would be a little hypocritical of the refs to do so.

[Dashi]

Ok, whats the reason again?

So it would be "hypocritical" to call it down the middle. That's like saying u can hit shaq cause he was to big. A foul is A Foul. People have been clobbering miami all year and the refs or the media-haters(ESPN) don't say or do nothing about it. Miami stands Up for itself 1 time and now they come out the woodwork hating

What, Ya worst nightmare about to come true? A Parade down Biscayne.

What are ya going to talk about once Lebron and Miami win the title? Oh they can't do it again. Right

What about the year after that? Same thing

Just another person that would be happy seeing miami lose.

What a shame (U live here right?)

Stop being a Hypocrite Mike

[jpejeff]

It's perfectly clear that everybody else don't like the Heat. They'll say and do anything to TRY and make the Heat fail. Screw everybody else.

[CLOS]

Anyone want to guess how much the fine will be?

[Herb]

The physical play in this series has been totally initiated by the Pacers. During this season, the Pacers committed the third most fouls in the league. So, this is not something new to them. Any astute observer realizes one way to equalize with an under talented team is to foul excessively. The problem I have is the amount of hard fouls against Wade and Lebron. Some appear to be intentional and severe, trying to take them out. The fault is the league in not protecting the players.

[LogicalCritic]

It was all good when Grainger was up in the Heat players face chucking, hacking etc. the Media was enjoying it, saying that they were physical,it was even said that LBJ is soft, Tyler's forearm on Dwade back and the other hand coming down with extreme force, even drawing blood, its not bad.
Then Haslem fouls and these cry babies on the TV start instigation fines.
I was even shock to see Mr. Grainger making comments on the Haslem foul in the locker room after the game, wasn't that what he was asking for with his attitude?

[OlSage]

David Sterns Should be deported.

[g007]

The media has so much influence on what the NBA does, its ridiculous! Steve Kerr cries like a little woman for Indiana and all commentators begin to bash Haslem. Its all perception and all the media Haters will continue to talk crap about us, just to be good with the rest of the country. Its Miami vs the rest of the world.

[jpejeff]

The league is saying that the Wade's foul should have caused a ejection. THE REFS WERE WRONG! Haslem foul should have caused a ejection. THE REFS WAS WRONG! Incompetent Refs! Heat gets screwed 2 times. 2nd call never happens if you get the 1st call right.jjh They huddled up after not making the call intially. No replay, just a bad call. If you eject Haslem, he would just be looking at a fine(not a suspension).

[black the trucker]

The call to suspend UD is CRAZY.. Are they looking at the same series that I've been watching and just cause bird stands up for his team they suspend two of our players.. CRAZY... Look, DO NOT let this stop what the big picture is.. BEAT this team in game 6. BY ALL MEANS.. TAKE THEM OUT.. 007..

[johnny]

Ya beat em by 30 in game 5 beat em by 45 in game 6,they are deflated already FINISH THEM!!!!!! THIS ENDS TONITE!!!!!!