SB Nation - Dexter Pittman

Erik Spoelstra Is Not Happy With Lack Of Pacers Discipline

Alfie Crow — Thu, 24 May 2012 15:50:19 -0000

On Tuesday, the NBA handed down suspensions for Miami Heat big men Dexter Pittman and Udonis Haslem for their flagrant fouls in Game 5 of the NBA Playoffs against the Indiana Pacers. While both men probably deserved a suspension, Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra is not happy with the decision.

SPOELSTRA: "The league does not have a problem with hard fouls on our two main guys." #Heat #NBA #Pacers
— Joseph Goodman (@MiamiHeraldHeat) May 24, 2012

Spoelstra is likely referring to the fact that Pacers forward Tyler Hansbrough also picked up a flagrant-2 foul in the same game, but unlike Haslem and Pittman was not suspended for the game. It's likely the league office viewed the flagrants as different entities, considering both Pittman and Haslem's fouls were in retaliation for Pacers fouls.

It's very likely Spoelstra will be fined by the NBA for his critical comments, but he's clearly not happy about the decision.

Larry Bird Thinks His Pacers Are Too Soft

Scott Schroeder — Wed, 23 May 2012 13:28:25 -0000

The Indiana Pacers picked up a bad loss on Tuesday night that saw its share of physical altercations. Unfortunately for Indiana, the majority of the physicality came from the Miami Heat as they cruised to a 115-83 victory.

The hard fouls -- specifically those from Dexter Pittman and Udonis Haslem -- led to quite a bit of outrage on the internet and some unhappy comments in the locker room afterward.

Nobody seemed to be quite as upset as Pacers' president of basketball operations Larry Bird, however, as he unloaded on his team for being "soft" in Tuesday night's drubbing.

Larry Bird: "I can't believe my team went soft. S-O-F-T. I'm disappointed. I never thought it would happen."
— Mike Wells (@MikeWellsNBA) May 23, 2012

That comment will almost certainly lead to one of the Pacers trying to prove they're not soft in Game 6 and then, maybe, this series will look the way basketball was played back in Bird's heyday.

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 Elbows Lance Stephenson In The Throat

Brendan Porath — Wed, 23 May 2012 03:25:59 -0000

An extremely physical series with plenty of hard fouls may have hit a low point at the end of Game 5 on Tuesday night. Lance Stephenson, who's had no impact on the floor in the Pacers and Heat Eastern Conference Semifinal series, somehow left his imprint on a game yet again. Only this time, he was on receiving end of a nasty play by Miami big man Dexter Pittman, who threw an elbow into the neck and shoulder of Stephenson as he came full speed into the lane to crash the board. Stephenson did not fall, but clutched his shoulder and was reportedly getting concussion tests. Danny Granger also said he was getting x-rays for a broken collarbone. Pittman was also seen winking on the TNT replay, confirming that it was almost certainly a retaliatory move for Stephenson's "choking" sign he made to LeBron James in Game 3 last week in Indianapolis. The TNT analysts predicted that Pittman would be suspended several games for the foul. Video of the foul after the jump.

For more news, analysis, and discussion on the Heat, visit Peninsula Is Mightier and SBNation Tampa Bay. For the opponent's perspective throughout the series, check out Indy Cornrows and SB Nation Indiana. And for all your news and notes on the playoffs matchups, visit SB Nation's dedicated NBA hub.

Miami Heat Interested In Eddy Curry After NBA Lockout If He Can Lose 40 More Pounds

Scott Schroeder — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 15:38:21 -0000

The Miami Heat apparently are not too worried about the NBA lockout. The team has already made a wish list of their top free agent prospects public as Shane Battier, Samuel Dalembert and Eddy Curry are the names currently being bandied about, but Curry's name comes with a rather large asterisk.

Curry, the fourth overall pick of the 2001 NBA Draft, "needs to lose at least 40 more pounds" before Pat Riley and the Heat front office decides to give him a chance to play with the Big Three.

This isn't the first time the Chicago native has been asked to lose weight in his brief NBA career -- pictures have even surfaced of his previous weight loss efforts -- but the 7-footer has continuously allowed himself to regain the weight right after he works so hard to lose it.

Curry has plenty of potential left considering he's just 29 and hasn't really played consistent NBA minutes since the 2007-08 season with the New York Knicks. His chances are dwindling, however, as he reportedly still weighs in the 330 range after recently losing 20 pounds -- and the Heat are still hoping he can lose an additional 40 excess pounds on top of that.

If the Heat are going to count on Curry to work his way down (and stay) under 300 pounds, they might be better off just sticking with fellow big man Dexter Pittman. The rookie showed the dedication needed as he lost a lot of weight this past season while splitting time between Miami and the NBA Development League and he's already under contract.