Heatstroke: Indiana Burned By LeBron James, Dwyane Wade

Pacers' Issue Is Guard Play, Not Soft Play

The Indiana Pacers' general manager called his team "soft" after a blowout loss to the Miami Heat in Game 5, but that's not the real problem with this squad.

NBA Playoffs: Flagrant Fouls Will Be Reviewed, Suspensions Are Possible

The NBA has decided to review the three flagrant fouls that were issued in Tuesday night's game between the Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers in a move that shouldn't surprise anyone that was watching. It all began with Tyler Hansbrough, but it seemed as though Udonis Haslem and Dexter Pittman caused a bit more damage with their fouls.

Nonetheless, the NBA is going to review the incidents and then -- at a time to be determined -- potentially hand out suspensions.

NBA confirms the obvious. Last night's flagrants by Hansbrough, Haslem, Pittman now being reviewed. Not known yet when any verdicts revealed

— Chris Tomasson (@christomasson) May 23, 2012

Suspensions wouldn't be mandatory, of course, but CBS Sports posted a solid piece looking at the flagrant fouls in an effort to guess what sort of penalties might await the three players involved.

For more on the Miami Heat, check out Peninsula Is Mightier and SB Nation Tampa Bay. To stay up-to-date on the Indiana Pacers, head over to Indy Cornrows and SB Nation Indiana.

Larry Bird Thinks His Pacers Are Too Soft

Heat Vs. Pacers: Hard Fouls By Miami's Dexter Pittman, Udonis Haslem Draw Reactions

The Miami Heat and the Indiana Pacers played an intense Game 5 on Tuesday night, but it might have been too intense. There were several hard fouls committed by Miami, and the team might be down a couple of players should suspensions be handed out. The most egregious foul was Dexter Pittman's elbow to Lance Stephenson's throat. It looks intentional, and could wind up costing Pittman several games. However, don't ask LeBron James his thoughts on the play until he sees the video (via CBS Sports):

"I need to see it," James said. "I need to see exactly what happened. But I think there's no room for dirty plays in our game, period – whether it's from us, or Indiana or anyone in the league. We're all one group as players, and you don't want anybody to get hurt. I haven't seen that actual play, but we'll see."

Earlier in the game, Udonis Haslem committed a hard foul on Tyler Hansbrough, who had fouled Dwyane Wade before that. Haslem's foul on Hansbrough looked premeditated, but Heat coach Erik Spoelstra is backing up his player and claiming otherwise (via the Miami Herald):

"There were three hard fouls in this game, and the league will review them," Spoelstra said. "We thought [Haslem] was making a play on the ball. This is a physical series. Nobody wants to make it into anything more than that."

The Heat should start preparing for the loss of two players. It would be hard to imagine the NBA not disciplining either member of the Heat.

For more on the Miami Heat, check out Peninsula Is Mightier and SB Nation Tampa Bay. To stay up-to-date on the Indiana Pacers, head over to Indy Cornrows and SB Nation Indiana.

Lance Stephenson Injury Update: Pacers Guard Gets X-Rays, Concussion Test After Receiving Elbow

In the waning moments of Game 5 against the Miami Heat, Indiana Pacers guard Lance Stephenson received an elbow to the throat from Dexter Pittman, sending him to the floor. Stephenson was evaluated after the game for a concussion and received X-rays, according to Alex Kennedy of Hoops World:

Doctors are evaluating Lance Stephenson. He's getting x-rays and a concussion test. He may have a broken collarbone, says Danny Granger.

— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) May 23, 2012

Stephenson landed awkwardly after the elbow sent him up into the air. As he came back down, he was able to extend his left arm out for support, but the force of that impact certainly could have led to a broken collarbone.

Pittman, who winked in reaction to the event, is likely to receive a significant suspension as a result of his actions.

For more on the Miami Heat, check out Peninsula Is Mightier and SB Nation Tampa Bay. To stay up-to-date on the Indiana Pacers, head over to Indy Cornrows and SB Nation Indiana.

Dexter Pittman's Reaction To Elbowing Lance Stephenson Says It All

If there is anyone out there who thinks Dexter Pittman’s elbow to Lance Stephenson’s throat wasn’t intentional, you might want to watch Pittman’s reaction.

That’s after Stephenson walked to the free-throw line. Now, Pittman could have been winking at someone else for some other reason … but that seems hard to believe.

Heat Vs. Pacers, 2012 NBA Playoffs Game 5: Miami Picks Up 115-83 Victory For 3-2 Series Lead

The Miami Heat lead the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference semifinals, three games to two, following a 115-83 victory Tuesday night at AmericanAirlines Arena. The Pacers had no answer for LeBron James and Dwyane Wade and failed to overcome poor shooting throughout the game.

LeBron James led the Heat's offensive effort with 30 points and nearly finished the game with a triple-double, grabbing 10 rebounds and dishing the ball out for eight assists. Dwyane Wade followed with 28 points while Mario Chalmers contributed with 11 rebounds.

The Heat won the rebounding battle, 49-35, and the shooting game, 61.4 percent to 33.7.

Paul George led the Pacers with 11 points while Danny Granger and David West each chipped in 10 points. No other Pacers player scored more than eight points, allowing the points to be spread throughout the bench. But that spread the ball around and allowed the team to make just 30 of 89 shots.

This series continues Thursday in Indiana. ESPN will have the broadcast at 8:00 p.m. ET

For more on the Miami Heat, check out Peninsula Is Mightier and SB Nation Tampa Bay. To stay up-to-date on the Indiana Pacers, head over to Indy Cornrows and SB Nation Indiana.

VIDEO: Dexter Pittman Delivers Elbow To Lance Stephenson's Throat

Indiana Pacers benchwarmer Lance Stephenson bothered the Miami Heat players after he gave LeBron James the choke signal during the Pacers' Game 3 win. It took two games, but it looks like the Heat have gotten their revenge, all thanks to a very dirty play by backup center Dexter Pittman.

With the game decided in the final minutes, Stephenson came down the lane to grab a rebound. Pittman responded by blatantly sticking his elbow out, catching Stephenson right in the throat.

That play is reminiscent of the elbow Los Angeles Lakers center Andrew Bynum delivered to J.J. Barea in Game 4 of the Lakers' four-game loss to the Dallas Mavericks in the 2011 NBA Playoffs. Bynum received a five-game suspension for that one.

Pittman may receive fewer games simply because the games he'd miss are in the playoffs and not the regular season, but that play was just as bad as Bynum's, if not worse. I'd expect a major suspension.

For more information on the Miami Heat, check out Peninsula Is Mightier and SB Nation Tampa Bay. For more on the Indiana Pacers, head over to Indy Cornrows and SB Nation Indiana.

Pacers' Offensive Issues, Explained

The Indiana Pacers are shooting 4-15 from one spot on the floor in this game, per CBSSports.com. Here are your choices.

1. Layups
2. Jumpers
3. Three-pointers

If you guessed one, you are correct!

VIDEO: Mike Miller Doesn't Need A Shoe To Play Basketball

LeBron James And Dwyane Wade Are Toying With The Pacers Now

With Danny Granger out of the game due to injury, Game 5 of this 2012 NBA Playoffs second-round series between the Indiana Pacers and Miami Heat has turned into the LeBron James and Dwyane Wade show. The two Heat stars have completely taken over this game, throwing in many highlights on fast breaks.

This play was probably the most impressive. James was falling out of bounds, but he somehow managed to catch the outlet pass with one hand and fire it to Wade on the other side of the court for the dunk.

Like any good teammate, Wade decided to return the favor, throwing a baseball pass of his own to hit James for a dunk.

If Miami was more of a football town, we'd hear how that was like [INSERT QUARTERBACK] hitting [INSERT WIDE RECEIVER] for a touchdown. Sadly, Ryan Tannehill to Davone Bess doesn't really qualify.

For more information on the Miami Heat, check out Peninsula Is Mightier and SB Nation Tampa Bay. For more on the Indiana Pacers, head over to Indy Cornrows and SB Nation Indiana.

Tonight's Ronny Turiaf Celebration GIF

This one’s actually pretty strong. I give it an 8 out of 10 on the Ronny Turiaf celebration GIF scale.

Danny Granger Injury Update: Pacers Star Won't Return After Aggravating Sprained Ankle

Danny Granger's return to the lineup after suffering a sprained ankle late in the first half of Game 5 of the Pacers' 2012 NBA Playoffs second-round series against the Miami Heat was short-lived. Granger came down again on LeBron James, this time while trying to dribble by him early in the third quarter, and he will not return, the Pacers announced.

Granger was trying to dribble the ball down the floor when he ran into James. He immediately came up limping, hopping on one leg to the sidelines by the Heat bench. After staying down for a few minutes, he eventually went back to the locker room. A few minutes later, the Pacers announced he would not return.

For more information on the Miami Heat, check out Peninsula Is Mightier and SB Nation Tampa Bay. For more on the Indiana Pacers, head over to Indy Cornrows and SB Nation Indiana.

The Power Of Shane Battier Hitting Three-Pointers

Shane Battier has four threes in this game after two threes in the first four games combined. That matters a lot. It matters so much that David West overreacted to Battier in the corner and left the rim wide open on a LeBron James cut to the basket. Easy slam dunk.

Pacers Offense Pretty Terrible At End Of First Half

The Indiana Pacers, despite their size advantage inside, were completely unable to get the ball to Roy Hibbert and David West at the end of the first half. There were four possessions in particular where the Pacers’ guards dribbled around aimlessly instead of entering the ball to Hibbert in the post.

It’s a huge problem, of course, and it explains how the Heat’s lead whittled from two to nine.

But it’s also important to keep perspective here. Of course the Pacers should be criticized, but it’s harder than ever to enter the ball into the post these days because teams can play zone on the weakside. It also didn’t help that Danny Granger, the Pacers’ top offensive threat, was out of the game. Without that elite floor spacer in the game, the Heat were able to help off Indiana’s other perimeter players to further deny the post entry pass.

Indiana still needs to find a way to get the ball inside despite these circumstances, but it’s important to remember it’s 2012, not 1992. NBA rules these days make it easier than ever for smaller teams to deny the post.

Danny Granger Injury: Indiana Pacers Forward's Return Questionable With Sprained Ankle

The Indiana Pacers' chances of defeating the Miami Heat in Game 5 of their 2012 NBA Playoffs series just took a hit. Star forward Danny Granger has suffered an apparent ankle injury late in the second quarter, and he was taken back to the locker room to be treated. The Pacers say Granger is questionable to return to the game.

Granger suffered the injury shooting a three-pointer from the left wing. He was guarded very closely by LeBron James and, because of that, he stepped on James' foot as he landed. He then spent the duration of the Heat's possession on the ground in pain. The Pacers eventually called timeout to get Granger out of the game.

For more information on the Miami Heat, check out Peninsula Is Mightier and SB Nation Tampa Bay. For more on the Indiana Pacers, head over to Indy Cornrows and SB Nation Indiana.

Darren Collison Will Want This Shot Back

The Miami Heat have stumbled upon a new defensive strategy to slow Darren Collison down. See it in action here.

They say the NBA is a copycat league, so it’ll be interesting to see if other teams try to duplicate this philosophy.

VIDEO: Udonis Haslem Retaliates On Tyler Hansbrough, Called For Flagrant Foul