When bit players spoil the big moments

And to think it was all started by a total afterthought named Lance Stephenson.

In case you missed it, the Heat-Pacers game turned into first-round pucks last night with gratuitous elbows and cheap shots and, surely to all that is good in the world, a couple of suspensions from the NBA’s Lords of Discipline today.

Dexter Pittman, who is to afterthoughts almost what Stephenson is in the grand scheme of professional basketball today, delivered the most blatant and one that has to get him suspended for, oh, I dunno, five games?

Check it out, see if I’m not right?

If that’s Metta World Peace, he’s done forever; it’s a guy with no real history so five games makes sense to me because you cannot throw an elbow to the head and neck of an airborne opponent without paying a steep price.

So, thanks, Lance, for helping tarnish at least a little bit what could have been a compelling series that’s turned into all sorts of ugly.

It was Stephenson, you recall, who got up from his perch at the end of the Indy bench earlier this series and flashed the choke sign at LeBron James after James had missed a free throw.

Classy move, indeed.

James, in what might have been his best media answer ever, gave it one of the old “Who? What is Lance Stephenson?” when asked about it and he went on with dominating the series.

Of course, no one could leave well enough alone, which led to an escalation of verbal shots on the off-day, a Tyler Hansbrough cheap shot on Dwyane Wade, a Udonis Haslem flagrant on Hansbrough and then Pittman’s elbow to Stephenson’s neck late in Game 5.

Now, we all like our playoff basketball to be rough and tumble and it always is as series progress, teams develop a healthy dislike for each other that gives an edge to the games.

But what we don’t like, and don’t need, are bit players doing stupid things, trying to somehow make a name for themselves when what they should be doing is watching the good players play and learning from them.

The Pittman-Stephenson incident was not about basketball at any level – you could make a so-so case that the first two flagrant fouls of the night were borne of over-exuberance and at least a little bit explainable – and that’s just wrong.

I’m hoping the league comes down hard and that Game 6 is tough, but clean. Or what basketball’s supposed to be about.

-

Mail?

Let’s get started, the weekend approacheth.

Do it here, thank you very much.

-

Hey, an afternoon TOD game today!

What a great idea.

They should keep it up.

-

Raptors news?

None.

Oh, they made it official the other day that DeMar’s on the USA Select team and that Jay Triano is the co-head coach (old news in these parts) but other than that?

Nada.

They’re out looking at kids, as they have been for a while.

End of update, hope everyone’s happy.

-

Now, I don’t know Danny Kouvermans from Adam and I haven’t written more than two or three TFC stories in my life but, man, I like the guy.

First, the TFCs get drilled on the weekend and he says they’re “the worst team in the world” which is truly a money quote.

Then, as Our Man Dan scribbles today, Kouvermans doesn’t backtrack at all; suggesting:

“There’s not one (other) team in the world who lost nine times in a row. I don’t think what I was saying is not true.”

I tell ya, if you can’t win on the pitch, you better be entertaining off it and this guy’s been gold this week.

So, too, has his teammate Jeremy Hall, who said going into tonight’s big tilt with the Vancouvers:

“We have a chance to win the Canadian Cup, be the best 0-9 team in Canada.”

That’s the marketing slogan right there, isn’t it?

-

I’m hearing Donald Driver is the champion of DWTS?

I tell ya, as hoofers, athletes aren’t too bad, are they?

I didn’t see it but I’m saddened that he didn’t do a Lambeau Leap into Carrie Ann, Bruno and Len; that would have been classic.

-

Hey, I heard the medical drama House is done now?

Where’s it rank?

Used to see it a few times here and there and it wasn’t bad; it was kind of like House was the MacGyver of doctors, always finding some odd way to solve a mystery.

Of course, the drug addiction backstory was rather unique but, frankly, the show got a bit old in a big hurry, didn’t it?

Will it be missed?

Doubt it.

-

Speaking of Heat-Pacers, the one and only Mike Wells gets the money quote there with Larry Bird saying:

"I can't believe my team went soft. S-O-F-T. I'm disappointed. I never thought it would happen."

Coming from as tough and as tough-minded a player as there has ever been, that’s a huge indictment and it’ll be interesting to see how Indy reacts.

-

 

 

Comments

[larry lukeeborg]

gee, i find it difficult to believe that you're laying the blame on stephenson for pittman's cheap shot!

Blogger's note: He started the whole mess; pretty simple

[sportschick]

House is the Sherlock Holmes of doctors, and Wilson is Watson. ;)

I think San Marino is worse than Toronto FC. Nice location, though.

[The Waterboy]

I think maybe where you have "McIvor" you meant "MacGyver", the improvisational wunderkind played by Richard Dean Anderson on TV for seven seasons, I believe. Very cool show for those of us who grew up with it.

As for House, I stopped watching over time because there was never any consistent personal growth in the main character for much of the series. (Which is understandable, in a sense; why have House grow up when that would run the risk of messing with the formula which made the show successful?) I did come back to it again this season once it was clear it was the last season to see if anything had changed or would be changing, and the writers were finally allowing House an arc of growth. You should force yourself to watch the last episode of it, if you can; it was structured quite differently than a regular episode and did a very good job of wrapping things up and bringing closure to the series.

Blogger's note: I did, got it fixed; thanks

[Rory]

You put the focus of the blame on Stephenson? Really, he does a bit of embarrassing "trash talk" essentially (only visually, rather than verbally), for which he apologized afterwards, and you think he should be blamed for a very dangerous foul against him? LeBron shrugged it off - rightfully so - and so should everybody else. Trash talk and similar antics happen all the time - you could probably name 10 or 12 off the top of your head - and very little is made of it. Why is this one different, that it deserves the blame for such a horrid foul? After the Artest incident, was it questioned whether Harden had said anything? If so, would he have been to blame him for what happened? A person is to blame for his/her own actions: Stephenson for his lack of perfect sportsmanship; and Pittman for his very dangerous overreaction. I have been a loyal reader for years, and this is the first time I think you have missed the mark by a wide margin, in my opinion.

[Tim]

I wish the ref had clamped down on those first two flagrant fouls, made them flagrant twos or something. Maybe then the shenanigans at the end of the game wouldn't have happened.

I'm glad I stopped watching at the half, when it was still some semblance of a basketball game.

[john]

“Hansbrough’s cheap shot on Wade” PLEASE! He got his entire hand on the ball. I am so tired of Wade being protected by the Media and League. He is the king of cheap shots. Ask Kobe about his broken nose in an ALL STAR GAME. Every dog has his day and if Wade wants to be the tough guy he should stand up for himself. Funny how everyone remembers Stephenson giving Lebron the choke sign but no one ever mentions this from game 2.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMLnOTewYGg

And someone please tell me the difference between that punk move by Wade and this one by Odom that got him immediately ejected, except of course the name on the back of the jersey.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3JbYun1iCY

The Heat should be missing both Haslem and the other minimum wage flunky for at least the next 2 games.

[Mr. Cook]

Hey Doug, I don't recall if they rolled the clip live during the game, but highlights at night showed Pittman giving the 'wink wink' after throwing that foul. I think that puts it up over 7 games as a suspension, no? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irAsQGpykZs&feature=player_detailpage#t=108s

[Rob.V]

Those we're some great quotes.
-
Is there anyone better than Jerry Sloan in the NBA though?
-
"I can't reallly talk about the Bobcats job right now because i'm trying to hook up my sprinklers". Classic!

[Dave B]

I only watched House one season because every show was the same as the previous one. I won't miss it. I just started watching "Missing" (recorded the shows) and it looks like it will be good.

Haslem should have been given a flagrant 2 and kicked out of the game. His shot was similar to Pittman's - absolutely no play for the ball. None of it will bring any new love for the Heat. They are the new Broaodstreet bullys. And nobody mentioned the dirty play by LeBron where he slipped his foot under Granger's when Granger was in the air for a jump shot. That was where Granger twisted his ankle. I guess that is how LeBron gets even.

I never thought I would say this (because I have zero tolerance for Garnett's antics), but I hope Boston wins the East .

[RyanK50]

Watching the replay, I gotta say 5 games sounds pretty damn shallow for that hit. That's closer to a season if you ask me; at least a dozen games. That's Artest's elbow with a definite intent to injure. History isn't the case here, Pittman was trying to take a head off and if he hits slightly more accurately, Stephenson would be down for the count and basketball would have itself a Marty McSorely incident.

[sam]

A pitcher in baseball is applauded for a brush back pitch, or sticking one between the shoulder blades of an opposing player. Retaliation, if you will. The Pittman Elbow is somewhat of the same thing is it not? I guess it all depends who you are cheering for.
Mind you - Stephenson's antics were unprofessional.
Hope the Pacers will bounce back from that game. . . .

[Felix]

Doug,

Do you think you can take on uncle drew?
http://www.wimp.com/rookieyear/
(worth the watch)

Blogger's note: That's really good

[VCitty]

"gee, i find it difficult to believe that you're laying the blame on stephenson for pittman's cheap shot!
Blogger's note: He started the whole mess; pretty simple"

Strongly disagree with you, Doug.

Sure the 'choking' thing was immature - but it was done celebratory. Just like when LeBron fake coughs to make fun of Dirk. It certainly did not deserve a flying neck chop and it is embarrassing that you are giving Stephenson the blame for Pittman's extremely dangerous attack.

[SY]

Wow...really? Stephenson to blame for all this? For simply doing an immature gesture? And the gesture was not even towards Pittman......

Blogger's note: Partially, yes; bush league move by a bench warmer to escalate matters. Purely cheap antics he knew would provoke things or should have known

[Tim]

Hi Doug,

I know you've been thinking about an IGBT for the playoffs. Game one of Spurs/Thunder on Sunday night would be a pretty good one, no?

Blogger's note: I think you're on to something; I'll see if I can make it work