Wednesday, May 23rd, 2012 at 9:20 am  |  57 responses

Video: Dexter Pittman Elbows Lance Stephenson in the Throat

Retaliation or just a physical play?



After words were exchanged through the media, things got extremely physical last night between Miami and Indiana. Tyler Hansbrough and Udonis Haslem delivered big blows, but it was Dexter Pitman and his flying ‘bow that took the cake.

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  • http://slamonline.com TBRK

    bringin ’88 back

  • Riggs

    A F1? seriously?!? and haslem only got a F1 too? wtf

  • satchow

    So this is the *third* Flagrant 1 that should have been a Flagrant 2 and an ejection this series.

  • Sizzle

    The irony of this is hilarious. Stephenson grabbed his throat making a choke signal early in the series, now he grabbed his throat cause he got hit with the executioner. He mucked it up for about 3 minutes out there. I think Pittman is done for the playoffs, and Haslem likely a game at minimum.

  • http://www.crappyrappers.com Simon Caine

    Watch the same idiots who were calling for World Peace’s head applaud this moron because they feel Lance “deserved” it.

  • everything

    that was a dangerous play by pittman. curious how no one from the pacers violently reacted after stephenson got clocked. like they were anticipating something like this will happen.

  • http://Www.slamonline.com Wayno

    W.T.F.

  • http://abcnews.com charliewinning

    Sh!t got real last night.

  • Heals

    Interesting Lance grabs his throat then gets elbowed in it…

  • Da-Meat-Hook

    I’m pulling for the Heat but that was just stupid. The irony of Lance replicating “the choke” made me crack a smile at first, but there’s no room in the game for plays like that. Also, watch the landing, he didn’t nail it, but that’s a pretty good “Worm” for a 7 foot 300 pound man.

  • Mike Mihalow

    Artest would get 10 games for that.

  • Rik Smits Mullet

    Dumb move by pittman.

  • Ismael

    Should’ve been a flagrant foul 2, there was no play for the ball and he should be suspended. that was not cool bro. plus he winked after he did that. and yeah. it was interesting that no one from the pacers violently reacted after stephenson got clocked. I guess that’s why Larry Legend called them Soft.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Dagger

    I’m rooting for the Heat this series, but this was a thug move. Pittman should be out for the rest of the postseason, period.

  • http://www.borntocompete.com Money$hot

    Pittman no more games and playing time for you. And who in the hell was he winking at?

  • eZ

    Now watch the vid again and see how exactly NO one from the indiana bench gets up or even reacts and exactly 1 teammate on the floor checks if this guy is allright. It’s like nobody cares or they knew he had something coming. Weird..but this should be a F2 without doubt or question, it’s so obvious, and the fact that it’s among bench players and during garbage time should not matter…weird..weird…if this woulda happened among starters all hell would’ve broken loose.

  • crooklyn

    Suspend that jackass for next season, elbow to the adams’ apple could’ve been much worse. Over a stupid a$$ choke sign…?

  • Fat Lever

    Good thing Pittman is about as effective for the Heat as Stephenson is for the Pacers. If the Heat start running away with the game in game 6, emotions may supersede common sense and good judgment.

  • whooo!

    Stephenson is a beast to get clocked by a 300l dude at full speed and not even drop to the ground. Remember this – Tyson Chandle’s PICK on Lebron was deemed equal to this play. Blatant favoritism and the magic of flopping.

  • ClydeSays

    That’s ridiculous. How is that NOT an F2 and a suspension? No play for the ball, contact above the shoulders.

    I think it’s actually worse than MWP’s elbow since Pittman looked at Stephenson & then led with his elbow to the throat.

  • whooo!

    Remember how Tyson Chandler’s PiCK on Lebron was deemed a flagrant 1, just like this play? Or how Wade’s hit on Collison is the same play that got Posey and Jason Smith each ejected when they did it? Blatant favoritism, and it’s clear that you need to flop nowadays or the refs don’t think it’s serious.

  • Starks

    all out brawl after this foul, pacers are soft Bird is right

  • LA Huey

    Pacer reserve with a hard foul (shouldn’t be F1) on Wade? Haslem’s got his back. Pacer reserve taunting James? Old Man Howard with a verbal warning and Pittman with a cheap shot. Miami role players getting old school with the retribution for their stars. Haslem and Pittman deserve suspensions but I was glad to see the response.

  • http://www.slamonline.com spit hot fiyah

    suspension worthy for sure

  • http://slamonline.com Jones

    Yeah, I agree with what a lot of folk here are saying. There’s a lot of favoritism and a need to “sell the call”. If Stephenson exaggerates, lays down on the floor for a bit, and basically doesn’t immedietly get back up, the refs go to the instant replay to take a longer look at it, there’s no way Pittman doesn’t get a flagrant 2.

    Looks like the Pacers just dont want to flop. If it was Hansbrough/Amundson hitting Miller/Wade/James you know they’d be crying on the floor and the league would probably give them a massive fine and a suspension.

  • Dibshidski

    I seriously doubt that Stephenson will ever pull a choke sign out on a superstar again, unless he’s at a restaurant, eating too fast.

  • MAS

    That what the Pittman’s of the L are for/. So he gets suspended for the next 7 games…it’s not like he is in the rotation anyways. What the hell. I think its a good move by the Heat. I just hope the Pacers send one of their Pittman’s after Wade or LeBrons’ wandering elbow.

  • http://sdfjklc.com Jukai

    Next time, Pittman has to meet him on a flight of stairs.

  • Feez_22

    This foul deserves a 7+ game suspension. Not only did lance probably break his collar bone… Lance almost broke his left leg on the landing. Im sure stern & the office is looking hard. He may get 2 games though as he is a first offender… but if it were me i’d give him 7 games. He lowered the boom on purpose and didn’t even try 2 hide it.

  • barnanusb

    I want to know why the tree refs on the floor didn’t take it more seriously when the replay CLEARLY shows it was a dirty play. Did they even review the replay? Any time something looks funky they should go to the tapes. It’s there to help.

  • IndyB

    May Fesenko dress next game and go after one of thiers. If the NBA wont suspend players, then players must police themselves… shouldve had him go after Wade after the Game 2 flagrant.

  • AiRsMiTh

    Oh my gosh, it’s so ironic!!! LOL… He taunted LeBron for choking, now he got hit in the throat. So hilarious. Seriously?

  • AQWORD

    That was shady. I dont support intentional or unintentional contact to the neck as that could be fatal.

  • TS

    Those who applaud what Pittman did just show that they don’t understand what basketball is about and, more generally, what sportsmanship is. This happened at 20 seconds from the end and the Heat were winning! I love to watch LeBron and Wade play. This scene just disgusts me. Even if Pittman’s aggression is an answer to Stephenson’s earlier provocation, it is (1) grossly disproportionate as an answer–you don’t get physical to react to a verbal provocation; and (2) Stephenson apologized publicly for it, so there was no more justification to react at all. Whether you’re a Heat fan or not, this is a no go. The video clearly shows that Pittman saw Stephenson coming and hurt him intentionally. I agree with those who judge that Pittman should be banned for the rest of the postseason. Someone with his attitude does not have a place on the court. Stephenson should sue him in a criminal court too!

  • bike

    I’m guessing someone, like Riley, pumped the Heat up to play nasty. Intimidate, knock the Pacers back a notch, whatever it takes. Game 6 will either be very closely called or all hell could break loose.

  • http://www.twitter.com/_dfrance dfrance21

    Classless move by Pittman, imagine how much worse it could have been. Look at how Stevenson lands, he could have easily torn something in his knee as well. I wonder what Danny “Thug Life” Granger would have done he been out there.

  • Leoni

    Vicious.

    Maybe this is worst than the Artest elbow.

  • AiRsMiTh

    Agree with you, Leoni. Pitt is much bigger than Lance, and lunges his elbow at his throat. I’d rather have a concussion than the potential injuries that could occur.

  • http://www.fullc0urtpress.com KHOLIDAY05

    When you’re a big man, you’re taught to find a body and box out when a shot goes up. I wonder if this was someone other than Lance Stephenson if everyone would be yelling for a suspension. I dont think Pittman is that type of player. Hansborough, YES, Haslem, YES, but I dont see that from Dexter Pittman.

  • MikeN

    The new crop of NBA refs have no respect and control over games. Retired ref Steve Javie would have thrown all three guys out of the game.

  • Big Will

    He leveled his @$$!! Totally wrong, but that what Lance gets for talking ish!

  • http://slamonline.com LakeShow

    How did Pittman also fall? LOL. You fell from hitting a guy in the neck with your elbow. WTH, stay standing big fella.

  • Solito

    Pittman is young, he’s just not as good at delivering a sublime message yet. He wasn’t trying to hurt anybody, he is just clumsy. give him a couple of years, and he might make Mahorn and Oakley proud (who btw is watching the series in a lazy boy at MJ’s house, smoking a cigar).

  • http://www.twitter.com/_dfrance dfrance21

    @KHOLIDAY I guess you missed him winking and smiling after the play. Unless you think he did it accidentily, but then upon realizing it was Lance he winked and smiled.

  • stephenmoneymay

    i would have to respond !!!!!!!!!!

  • baba

    Pittman circa 80s-90s ball!

  • jose

    Suspension needed. . . it’s the last few seconds of the game where your up by like 30 and for that to happen. . .not professional at all. . .

  • http://sdfjklc.com Jukai

    TS: I think some of us are applauding not because Lance Stephenson has a history of throwing pregnant women down a flight of stairs.

  • http://www.fullc0urtpress.com KHOLIDAY05

    @dfrance, I actually did miss the wink. Now that I saw it, he’s an idiot!

  • http://slamonline.com The Philosopher

    King James is a DON.

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