Indiana Pacers respond to Erik Spoelstra’s hard foul comments – NBA News
The Indiana Pacers have responded to Erik Spoelstra’s comments, which the Miami Heat coach made before game 6, regarding the way the Pacers have committed hard fouls on Heat’s key players – LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.
After the two flagrant 1 fouls committed by Heat players Udonis Haslem and Dexter Pittman were upgraded and both players were handed suspensions, Spoelstra has said before game 6 that the officials were unable to see the hard fouls
being committed on his star players LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.
He also commented about the Pacers playing style, saying that the Pacers had committed over a dozen hard fouls to the face of the two Heat players.
“It's up to him to say what he has to say. It's not a big deal” said Pacers forward David West.
"That's the way we've been playing. We really haven't adjusted the way we've been playing. We haven't been on TV so folks haven't seen us, but that's how we've been playing all year” West added.
Pacers coach Frank Vogel also had something to say about Erik Spoelstra’s claim;
"In no way, shape or form have I ever suggested that we hit anyone in the head. Ever. And I would argue that we hit them in the head 12 times” said Vogel.
Asked what he thought about the review conducted by the league on the three flagrant fouls in game 5 and their resulting decision to upgrade Haslem and Pittman’s fouls, Vogel said:
“I respect whatever decision they (the NBA) were going to make. It's out of our hands and they did a good job with it."
Erik Spoelstra was also fined $25,000 by the league for his comments on officiating and hinting that foul play was involved on the part of the officials. The series between the Heat and Pacers has been making news even though the
series itself has ended.
Miami won game 6 to take the series 4-2 and move into the Eastern Conference Finals. They will now open the Finals at the American Airlines Arena on Monday night against the winner of the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics game
7 on Saturday.
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