Retaliations exist across the board in sports. Baseball is a clear example. Pitchers might hit a team's best player when one of theirs gets plunked.
In Tuesday's victory, the Miami Heat made the Indiana Pacers pay for previous actions. Udonis Haslem took it upon himself to get back at Tyler Hansbrough for his flagrant foul on Dwayne Wade.
Less than a minute after Wade was whacked in the face, Haslem prevented Hansbrough from getting an easy bucket by tomahawking him across the head as he drove to the lane.
This is retaliation at its finest. Apparently, the Indiana Pacers thought they could take down Wade easily, but instead this ignited the Heat team.
Later in the game, Dexter Pittman, a nobody off the Miami bench, elbowed Lance Stephenson on the throat. Stephenson was the guy on the Indiana bench holding his throat mocking Lebron James in Game 3. Although it has not been stated, it can be inferred that Pittman was getting back at Stephenson for clowning around earlier in the series.
Standing up for your teammates and showing camaraderie is allowed, but the Heat have to find a different way to deal with these retaliations. They are already proving they are a tough team by defeating the Pacers. Plus, the fact that James and Wade did not go after these players, although smart of them not to, makes them look weak.
Their main goal, as a team, should be getting to the promiseland once again and this time walking out as champions. James is having fantastic games, proving he is determined to take the team back and Wade has picked up the slack after a frustrating Game 3 performance.
If Pittman is suspended nobody will miss him on the Miami team, but Udonis Haslem has to be a smarter player. He was a factor in Game 4 and has become a key piece substituting for the hurt Christ Bosh.
No decision has been made on whether to suspend or just fine Haslem. A Haslem-less Heat team means a smaller and less aggressive bench, applying pressure on the remaining players to perform at a higher level.
Chances are the Pacers are going to come out scoring and possibly looking to answer Pittman's late hit. Before Game 6, Erik Spoelstra has to get the team's focus and remind them they are already dealing with a big injury. They can not afford anymore inactive players, let alone players suspended for a sustained period.
The Heat have to remember their primary goal. Injured and suspended basketball players can not help you win championships.
