Wednesday, May 23rd, 2012 at 9:30 am  |  102 responses

Danny Granger: Udonis Haslem Should Be Suspended for Game 6


Udonis Haslem delivered a hard, retaliatory foul on Tyler Hansbrough last night, during the Miami Heat’s critical Game 5 victory. According to Danny Granger — himself no guarantee to suit up for Game 6 — Haslem should be forced to sit out the next battle. From the Sun-Sentinel: “Obviously it was retaliation for Tyler’s foul on [Dwyane] Wade,’ Granger said. ‘I mean, I saw it was bad in the game. Then I came back here and I saw the replay. It looked about three times worse. That was all-out. I expect to see Flagrant 2. I’d be shocked if they don’t upgrade it after looking at that play. … Seeing it in slow motion, it was obvious what [Haslem's] intent was. I think it was just as dangerous as what Metta World Peace did to James Harden. I know he was trying to protect his teammate, but it was a hard foul.’ Granger’s own status is uncertain for Game 6 on Thursday, but that’s due to the serious sprain he suffered to his left ankle late in the first half. [...] In terms of discipline, the timing of the Haslem foul was suspicious and could prompt action from the league office. Granger admitted the Hansbrough foul on Wade ‘should have been a Flagrant 1. He went to block the shot and there was head contact.’ However, Granger also was upset by the garbage-time foul on Pacers backup Lance Stephenson by Heat center Dexter Pittman. ‘Lance is getting X-rayed right now; he might have broken his collarbone,’ Granger said. ‘I’d be surprised if that one’s not a Flagrant 2 as well. Like I said, it was like the Wild, Wild West.’”

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  • http://www.slamonline.com Eboy

    Thanks for the public service announcement, president of the Fake Tough Guy club.

  • http://nba.com BadBluue

    If Udonis Haslem should be suspended for game 6, Danny Granger should be suspended for the entire next season!

  • A.

    All of Granger’s posturing and getting up in people’s faces resulted in the actions in last night’s game. Them MIA boys decided that enough was enough. No more posturing and angry words. IND wanted a physical series, Granger seemed willing to fight every game. Well now MIA brought the fight to you. And now he’s crying to the League office for help. Like Larry Bird said, these Pacers are SOFT! S-O-F-T.

  • http://abcnews.com charliewinning

    What a hypocrite smh

  • http://Www.slamonline.com Wayno

    Pittman and Haslem should both be suspended…cheap ass, no skill, dirty players

  • Heals

    Heat fans aside, Haslem shoulda got a Flagrant2 and miss next game or if Indy retaliates it should be treated the same, Flag1 and keep it movin…

  • http://www.donthatemiami.com/heat/ultimate-lebron-james-2012-mvp-highlight-mix/ LeBron MVP

    If Haslem or Pittman are suspended, then, so should Granger for his Elbow to LeBron’s Head and Hansborough for his hit on Wade. Pacers did this to themselves.

  • Mike Mihalow

    Agreed with Wayno (the 1st part)

  • http://www.slamonline.com Royal

    Say what you want about Granger , but at least he got in the person’s face an let them know what’s up….What Haslem and Pittman did were essentially suckerpunches/cheap shots , which should always be considered a punk move…..

  • Rik Smits Mullet

    Dumb move by haslem aswell. How thin do you want the heats front court to be.

  • http://www.nyill.wordpress.com O

    Granger avoided two elbows to the grill from LeBron, but couldnt avoid his planted foot. Haslem and Pittman should be suspended, but Maimi vs. Boston is too big to gamble on a Small market Pacer team pulling off an upset. Especially after Bird called his own team out. Pittman might get suspended, but Haslem aint.

  • IamYOU

    As a Heat a fan I agree that Haslem and Pittman should be suspended, But since this is coming from Granger I now disagree.

  • JoeMaMa

    Haslem should be suspended; he made no play on the ball. Pittman’s probably a flagrant 2, because he looked at Stephenson and led with his elbow into his head. Even if you discount the whole choke/Howard preamble, it stands as a flagrant 2 on its own merit. Hansbrough should get a flagrant 1. He followed through on Wade,but made a legitimate play on the ball, which is the saving grace in that situation. I think that the coming punishment on Pittman doesn’t matter, but the one on Haslem does. Indy may win game 6, but the Heat take it in 7.

  • Riggs

    so much stupidity in here, he’s right regardless of whose face he went up to.

  • Jobert

    I hope they don’t retaliate. A dirty play doesn’t deserve another dirty play. That kind of mentality is for children and North Korea.

  • Jobert

    Imagine if Indiana decided to get back by injuring Lebron and Wade. I could totally see them doing it.

  • crooklyn

    Suspend pittman for all of next season, totally uncalled for and could’ve done some serious damage to a young player/person. For giving a choke sign…? Really… go fight for a real cause. Udonis, 1 game and play on

  • A.

    Everyone wanted ’90′s basketball. Hard Playoff fouls, message sending fouls if necessary. Now that they’ve got them, they’re crying. What Haslem did was basically what Oakley did for MJ back in the day, he stood up for his superstar so that the superstar didn’t have to do it himself and hurt his team’s chances. Game 4, the Pacers cut Haslem. Game 5, they cut Wade. Haslem decided enough was enough, he was sending a message saying that they were not going to just sit back and take a beating, they are willing to hit back. Notice there was no scuffle or anything after the foul? Both teams knew what was up. You hit us, we hit back. Now Pittman, on the other hand, is just an idiot.

  • eZ

    The pacers fouled the first couple of heat layup possibilities in this series, hard. They pull jerseys, grab arms, hands and shoulders so as ‘not to allow’ layups, talk about wanting to be physical, make so called plays on the ball but follow through hard with no regard and grab and hold players in motion and even hold on to them after the call. They will also get in your face if you react irritated….Flagrant though haslems and pittmans foul might be, the pacers own actions backfired. Don’t cry now boohoo. Isn’t it ironic that the final incident that made granger leave the game permanently was him reaggrivating his ankle because he tried to grab lebrons arm again?..

  • IamYOU

    @A I agree man, this is like 90′s basketball playoffs just a bit chippy though. With Pittman’s action I thought he wanted some attention and as a Heat fan I don’t really care if he gets a season suspension and it’s obvious that even without dex HEAT can still go to the finals so yeah dexter pitman deserves to be suspended forever cause he’s trying to be a poor man worldpeace!

  • SixURRRS

    Granger should be suspended for trying to act hard when he knows he has no toughness. It’s easy to talk to superstars that you know won’t hit you. But full story— Pittman, Haslem, Granger, and Hansborough should all be suspended for game 6 based on their actions in this entire series.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Eboy

    Pitt lost his mind and went way out of bounds to make that hit…but I have a hard time feeling bad for a dude that pushed his pregnant girl down some stairs. Karma, b*tch, karma.

  • http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/chicago-bulls-talk/2011 Diesel

    I don’t understand some of you people. Granger was just standing up for himself when Lebron and Wade throw their mini tantrums and fling their elbows into people’s heads after fouls. Two times Granger took and elbow to the head from Lebron and he’s a fake tough guy for telling Lebron to his face to cut that sh*t out? A site full of fake tough guys calling out someone for actually saying something face to face. Priceless. And now he’s correctly calling out two flagrant 2 fouls to the head and people think he should shut up because he’s the same tough guy that was standing up for himself? I guess I need to be as tough as those Miami fans are to understand just how soft Granger is acting.

  • LA Huey

    I’m rooting for the Heat but I agree that Haslem should be suspended. However, Haslem did the right thing. Someone takes a shot at your star, role players better get gully.

  • Mo

    My problem with granger is that he seems extra thirsty for Haslem to be suspended for game 6. Trying to get a win by any means necessary. Let the league handle it and worry about your own team or better yet, your injured ankle. Looking like a sucker campaining for the NBA to suspend the guy.

  • http://slam ABS

    The Heat act like bullies I like D-Wade and The King but they get more calls then any other in the NBA (other than KOBE)but on the other end of the floor push, throw bows and man handle players when on def. Now they are playing a team that is able to take it and dish it out. So they have to play dirty taking cheap shots. I feel Danny G there is a different between playing hard def and playing dirty and the funny thing is it’s not like D West isnt fouling people but they dont want it with him( boxing is a great off-season activity!)… lol instead they go after dudes like T Hansbourgh. They are the popular kids that are mad because the nerds are stepping up. They really just look like Jonny from the first Karate Kid…..lol

  • IGGI

    Shot your mouth Ranger, fake ass tough guy.

  • http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/3183/tex-winter-compares-kobe-bryant-and-michael-jordan Allenp

    I was cool with Haslem’s foul. Pittman’s was really dirty.
    But why are people upset at Haslem. He fouled him hard, mostly hit his arm, with a glancing blow to the head. He could hve been tossed but he wasn’t. Retroactive flagrant two. Pittman should be sent home for the postseason.

  • http://www.soundcloud.com/tray-5 T-Ray

    I’m chill with the Haslem foul. Pittman’s foul was definitely uncalled for and Lance almost broke his leg too. Granger is a b*tch though. Plus I wasn’t surprised that Haslem fouled Tyler like that after he knocked the piss out of Wade while making a “play on the ball”.

  • Da-Meat-Hook

    Co-sign Allenp, Haslem’s foul looked a lot worse than it really was. The majority of contact made was with Psycho T’s arm and shoulder. Did the foul look like a Donkey Kong Hammer Punch? Definitely. But it wasn’t directed at his head nor was it the type of foul that ends careers. Pittman’s flagrant on the other hand . . .

  • http://www.slamonline.com Cheryl

    Listen, they asked for a rough game, they got one. Don’t go crying now. Somebody told them that you can beat the Heat by being physical and it’s just not true. Other than the Pittman hit, it was all good. Your guy hit Wade, our guy hit your guy. Now, let’s play the game.

  • ChipS

    Allen, I agree. Haslem just did what somebody like Charles Oakley would’ve done. I love a physical series, and the Pacers were running around with their chest poked out all series long until last night. Listen to their tone last night after the game, especially Hibbert’s, it’s like the school bully got beat up by the nicest kid in front of the whole school. Don’t punk out now, though that whoopin might motivate them.

  • Feez_22

    @Diesel… Stop it. Granger has pulled this fake tough guy act his whole career. That is what he is… a fake tough guy. A mentor of mine once told me that the loudest people are the weakest. The talkers… those are the weakest types. Its no coincidence that the toughest players in the series (Haslem, Hibbert, West, Hansborough) move in silence. Why? Because they are confident that if something goes down, they don’t need to TALK and TALK to solve it. they will throw down. When chalmers (whom imo is also one of those “talkers”) tried to approach west in game 2, did west even flinch? he stood his ground and waited for a hit. Thats what confident tough guys do. Not fake tough guys like granger who INSTIGATE ALL THE TIME. Granger even managed to instigate a fight out of disney world in orlando to go to the next game and instigate YET ANOTHER FIGHT… This is reminding me of kevin garnett. Kevin ain’t gonna confront the big, strong NBA player but will sure as hell instigate the euro guard. No difference here. I remember when KG tried 2 instigate that one guy and got punched right in the face… thats what fake tough guys are. Guys that just TALK and Instigate. Thats what granger is. Firstly, wade didn’t swing his elbow at anyone. Hibbert wrapped him up and he tossed hibbert’s hand. If you look at the 2 lebron plays, granger pulled his jersey on a fastbreak and fouled him in the paint. Elbows are bound 2 be thrown in the paint. However i agree that he shouldn’t have thrown it on the break. However, if granger were a real tough guy, he would have said something, left and would have gotten lebron back with a shot of his own. Granger however aint going to do that. Ever. He is a jumpshooter. a wuss that aint trying to get dirty. Granger is acting soft… its pretty clear. Don’t know how you aren’t seeing it.

  • Ldub

    Haslem F2, Pittman F2, Tyler F2(just for looking funny)..all of them out for game 6!! Granger-OUT….West-OUT! Like lil wayne said….”wrap it up”!

  • Ldub

    @diesel…how about zero times Granger was hit with an elbow. 1st time he was all on LBJ’s back and he postured up to get him off (after his headband was knocked off revealing his already hideous receeding hairline)….2nd incident was granger pulling James’ jersey and Lebron swung his elbow back (after granger had already ran by)….and lastly…was in Hibbert held on to Wades wrist (after HE had fouled him)…Id swing my damn arms too….GTFOM! Regardless if you like, love or hate the Heat…they arent holding on to jerseys, grabbing wrists and jumping on peoples backs. If they foul…they walk away, and they arent running up in peoples faces pretending that something is about to jumpoff in the midst of the championship run! Granger is still a kid in his mind. Is he correct for calling two flagrants? Sure! But that doesnt disregard the fact that he shouldnt be in peoples faces for fouls that were clearly unnecessary.

  • Key_34

    Problem I have with Granger’s comment is this. When he decided to get in Lebron and Wade’s face every game, what did he expect to happen? Nothing happened then, but it is now. So regardless if he’s tough or not, he should just be quiet and deal with it either way. Funny we haven’t heard from the toughest dude on both rosters, D West. He’s been quiet.

  • Ldub

    @ABS….stop with the biased comments. If you really think the Heat went back to the huddle and said hey im going after tyler because he isnt one of the stars youre crazy. Who fouled Wade? TYLER DID! Therefore Tyler is the one to get it! Plain and simple. Stop repeating what you hear and develop an opinion of your own. One that has an unbiased approach preferably! And just an FYI….Wade and Bron get the calls because they are both “physical-slashers”. When you go to the rack and hit someone, or someone hits you…8 times outta 10 the whistle is gonna get blown! Durant, Westbrook, Kobe, Dwight, Cp3, Blake, Dirk, Drose etc, all get to the line because of their style of play. They know how to draw the fouls! STOP hating!

  • Bruno

    if you are callin’ pittman’s foul the same as haslem and tyler, you just 100% blind or biased

  • http://slamonline jean

    Wyno this is for you…. granger trash talkin,he got 3 technicals in 3 games,holding people and jerseys.tyler flagrant foul on wade,game 4 elbow on haslem…8 stiches.who is dirty again??? Oh miami whit no bosh is beatin indiana but pacers with no granger….no shot,they are done.granger talking trash is fine but he didn’t back it up

  • BALLHOGG MELO

    You can not suspend Haslem without suspending Hansborough .. Indy thought they were going to out tough Miami, this series, just like the Knicks thought they were going to out tough Miami in the previous round. You can’t pretend to be tough…the pacers are soft and will always be soft..Where was Granger’s toughness when Q.Richardson choked his neck when the Pacers played Orlando in the regular season? Q Rich walked right up to D Granger and put both arms around his neck!! Granger didn’t do shi**..And neither did any of his “tough” teammates. Now that the national television lights are on this series they are trying to RE-INVENT they soft a** team image..Just do all of America a favor and get the hell up off my tv screen so I can finally watch a competitive Eastern conf series.

  • AiRsMiTh

    As a Warriors’ fan, I really don’t care for Granger, but I respect him, and I don’ t think he’s a “fake tough guy”, quite the contrary actually. Anyways, missed (was it Amundson?) the elbow UD took, but yeah, I think both fouls (UD and Pitt) warranted F2s. People playing down Haslem’s foul probably haven’t taken a shot like that before, i.e. a +6’8, +220 professional athlete coming at you and hitting you in the face. Just cause it didn’t look bad in slow motion, doesn’t mean it wasn’t, and he clearly hits him in the face. I believe Charles Barkley called the ref a coward for missing that call, and I agree. After clearly failing to make the correct call on two blatant, excessive fouls, I am beginning to wonder if anyone will step up to these “stars”. Anyways, disappointed to see the Pacers give the game away like that in the 3rd, but regardless, that has nothing to do with ignoring cheap shot fouls.

  • Ms. Pinkie Phelan

    This is da playoffs’ baby win or go home…take it like a man ..if you can’t take it, then don’t dish it…word

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    So is there anyone more unlikeable than Danny Granger right now? You are a basketball player, you know damn well the difference between the Haslem foul and the MWP elbow. Haslem being ejected yesterday would have been whatever, but he sure as hell doesn’t deserve to be suspended. That was just a real hard foul. Now the Pittman thing is a whole nother ball of wax, that was completely and utterly dirty. I think Miami should voluntarily suspend him. But Haslem shouldn’t get suspended, and Danny Granger should worry about his *rolled* ankle.

  • CubicleWorker

    How is Hansboroughs foul anything like the Haslem one? He actually blocked the ball as D-Wade tried to turtle between two big guys around the rim. The Hansborough foul was unquestionable not intentional… Just because Granger has been chippy this series doesn’t mean that this other stuff is cool….

  • CubicleWorker

    Also are you serious L-Dub?? “they arent holding on to jerseys, grabbing wrists and jumping on peoples backs. If they foul…” You’re right, they’re pushing people at full speed from behind, elbowing them in the neck and hulk smashing dudes in mid-air in retaliation… the pacers are clearly muchhh dirtier *rollseyes*

  • bike

    Whenever fouls dominate the news following a game, the refs are clearly to blame. It’s up to the refs and to some extent the coaches, to keep this sh*t from getting out of hand. Hard tough fouls are to be expected in playoffs. Retaliation, taunting, and all the trashy physical contact spell trouble.

  • dt

    Only Ron Artest would get a suspension I expect the NBA to remain inconsistent and to take a weak approach by allowing Haslem to play game 6.

  • http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/chicago-bulls-talk/2011 Diesel

    Hibbert fouled Wade, grabbed his hand to keep Wade from falling on his face, and Wade starts violently whipping his limbs around. He didn’t hit anyone that time, but Wade pulls that move often and does hit people. I agree Granger talks a lot, but I guess my perspective is coming from a Bulls fan who doesn’t see his team stick up for themselves and talk, push, or do anything. I appreciate someone telling Wade – relax with that sh*t. If anything, I feel like Wade is the fake tough guy. Just the other day the entire site was in agreement that he’s been taking cheap shots on players. Then he says yesterday in regards to Granger that “everyone knows no one is going to ever fight on the court”. If you ask me the fake tough guy is the person that cheap shots and hits people knowing he won’t have to ever deal with retaliation. So I don’t mind Granger at least acknowledging it and calling him out to his face. As for Lebron, its not a natural motion to throw an elbow that high. I can understand if a defender is bent at the knees with his head at your chest level and you accidentally hit him in the head while clearing space. But twice Granger was standing straight and Lebron’s elbow comes all the way up to 6’8” to hit him in the head…or almost hit him in the head. Those are thrown intentionally if you ask me. And its cheap.

    The one thing I will give everyone calling Granger a fake tough guy is it is a little sissy to be complaining to the media about players when you’ve been trying to self police everything yourself this whole time.

  • Trtmntdude

    Long-time season ticket holder. It’s about time that the heat got a little physical. Haslem did right by hitting Tyler in the mouth for the malicious foul to Wade. Suspended? Maybe. It would be a shame but I could see the justification. But Tyler drew blood (literally). Now Pittman should definitely be suspended for the rest of the year. That was just a cheap shot that could’ve caused some serious damage.

  • shutup

    I just wanna see some one truly take a shot on Lebron like Hansborough took, David Stern would stop the game and flog that person on the spot. Spo better get his stars of the court quick if the next game starts to be a blowout.

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