Pacers-Heat Game 5: Larry Legend is a little livid over Pacers' lack of toughness

Larry Bird says he is disappointed with his team's toughness in Game 5 loss to Miami Heat.

By Matt Moore

May 23, 2012 at 1:38 am ET • 1 min read

To read more on the Heat and Pacers' possible suspensions for Game 6, click here.

Larry Bird spoke to reporters after the Pacers' Game 5 loss to the Heat, and made his feelings about the game very clear. From the Indianapolis Star:

Larry Bird: "I can't believe my team went soft. S-O-F-T. I'm disappointed. I never thought it would happen."
— Mike Wells (@MikeWellsNBA) May 23, 2012

So the boss man is not happy.

In reality, the Pacers have been pretty tough in this series. They've given hard fouls. They've taken a few. They've really taken it to Miami and set a tone for what they will and won't take. Udonis Haslem's flagrant foul which could earn him a suspension was retaliation for Tyler Hansbrough's hit on Dwyane Wade. Any further action from the Pacers could have had dire consequences in an already ugly environment.

The Dexter Pittman hit was just unnecessary.

But if Bird's talking about the high-flying Heat offense, there's not much they can do. Fouling James or Wade when they get out in transition is easier said than done. The Heat just outran the Pacers in Game 5. Hopefully the Pacers respond, or Larry Legend is going to have a long summer full of holes.