"The league does not have a problem with hard fouls on our two main guys," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said Thursday before taking on the Pacers in Game 6.
"In nine games now there's been over a dozen hard fouls to the face, some of the Tomahawk variety, some have drawn blood. They don't have a problem with it so we don't have a problem with it. We'll focus on what we can control."
via 2012 NBA playoffs -- Erik Spoelstra rips Indiana Pacers for targeting Miami Heat stars - ESPN.
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Wade was cut open during Game 5 on the foul given by Hansbrough. The NBA Wednesday suspended Haslem one game and Dexter Pittman three games for his violent hit on Lance Stephenson in garbage time of the Heat's win Tuesday.
Without Haslem and Pittman, the Heat are expected to give more minutes to Juwan Howard, who also had issues with Stephenson, and there's a possibility the Heat could go small with Terrell Harris getting minutes. It has not been announced whether Eddy Curry will be active for Game 6. Which kind of tells you where we are with that.
Spoelstra also referenced 12 shots to the head from Indiana during the regular series and the Eastern Conference Semifinals on the Heat. Spoelstra is likely to face review from the league office for his comments with a fine possible.
The series has continually spun out of control in terms of physicality and both sides expect more of the same in Game 6 as the Heat try and close out Indiana on the road at 8 p.m. EST.
