to move up and down
Oops. Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade falls into the courtside photographers in the second quarter during Game 2 of the NBA basketball finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder
Two wrongs don’t make a right: There has been a nasty edge to the playoff series between the Miami Heat and the Indiana Pacers and after more blood in Tuesday’s latest encounter, the Heat’s Dwyane Wade said the physical clashes were getting close to crossing the line.
Wade was left with bleeding above his eye after being struck by Tyler Hansbrough in the second quarter of the Eastern Conference semi-final.
That incident may have motivated a worse foul when Miami’s Udonis Haslem slammed both his arms into the face of Hansbrough in the game’s second flagrant foul.
“I thought I got fouled once and the next thing I know I took a hit,” said Wade, whose 28 points helped Miami to a 115-83 victory to give them a 3-2 lead in the series.
“Obviously my face is not the ball. I thought it was uncalled for. No-one likes to see their own blood, I tried to stay in the game (mentally),” added Wade.
Even given the Knicks’ ridiculous history, this season had to be one of the franchise’s strangest. Carmelo Anthony came under fire for his performance, Jeremy Lin hit the scene, Anthony and Mike D’Antoni clashed, D’Antoni “resigned,” Mike Woodson took over, Lin got injured, Anthony rescued the team and led the Knicks to the playoffs, Amar’e Stoudemire punched a glass casing around a fire extinguisher following a loss in Miami, and, well, they sputtered out in the playoffs, setting a league record for most consecutive losses in the post-season, before winning Game 4.
LeBron James and the Miami Heat wore black hoodies on Friday to show their support of the Trayvon Martin case. The 17-year-old was shot dead by neighbourhood watch captain George Zimmerman in Florida, who thought the unarmed teenager looked suspicious. Martin was wearing a hoodie when he was killed. (via Twitter)
LeBron James gave Miami two big scares. The Phoenix Suns provided another. The Heat survived them all.
James scored 20 points, shaking off a stinger on his right elbow in the first quarter – then a high-impact collision with Grant Hill in the final seconds, staying down for nearly 2 minutes before getting pulled to his feet.
He remained in the game. In the locker room afterward, James complained of a headache and seemed more soft-spoken than usual, though insisted he was fine. He didn’t believe he would need additional testing, such as exams to rule out a concussion.
But when James was asked about whether he’s ever had a concussion, he told reporters: “No…I’m too tough for that.”
Miami Heat fans hold up a LeBron James cutout during a game against the Orlando Magic at American Airlines Arena on February 19, 2012 in Miami, Florida. Photo: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
Heat power forward Udonis Haslem goes flying after he is fouled by San Antonio Spurs forward DeJuan Blair during their NBA basketball game in Miami. REUTERS/Andrew Innerarity.
NBA general managers weighed in on the season so far in a NBA.com survey, and 75% believe the Heat will win the NBA Finals. That’s not so bad. But the Post’s Eric Koreen collected five of the most ridiculous answers. Did they get their interns to fill it out? Photo: REUTERS/Andrew Innerarity
Los Angeles Clippers Blake Griffin (2nd R) fights for a rebound with Miami Heat’s LeBron James (L-R), Udonis Haslem, and Chris Bosh during their NBA game in Los Angeles. “It’s good to get a win and get it by grinding it out,” said Griffin, who had 20 points and 12 rebounds. Photo: Lucy Nicholson/Reuters
No LeBron? No problem for Heat
Miami Heat’s LeBron James (R) does a dance with guard Mario Chalmers (L) during a time-out in overtime after they tied their NBA basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks in Atlanta, Georgia. The Heat defeated the Hawks after three overtimes. REUTERS/Tami Chappell
In the air
Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade drives as Charlotte Bobcats guard Gerald Henderson defends in the first half of their game in Miami, January 1, 2012. Photo: Andrew Innerarity/Reuters
Related: 2011 in Sport: LeBron James and the Miami Heat come up short
2011 in Sport: Three more basketball moments to remember
