HoopsHype.com Rumors

Scott Agness: Roy Hibbert: "We're not going to back down. They could be the champs, but we're coming for them." Twitter @ScottAgness

Indiana Pacers, Roy Hibbert 

Ethan J. Skolnick: Hibbert on getting shot blocked: "I learned my damn lesson." Twitter @EthanJSkolnick

Indiana Pacers, Roy Hibbert 

Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert is not backing down from the Miami Heat, and he's not backing down from his Twitter comment, accusing Shane Battier of a deliberate knee to Hibbert's midsection. At the Pacers' Friday morning shootaround, he stood by his tweet. "I'm just going to be there to protect the paint," Hibbert said. "I wasn't whining. I was just saying it was a play that I personally thought it wasn't a regular shooting motion for a layup. … No matter what I'm going to be there. It's playoff basketball. We're tough guys. We'll keep playing. "I read something where someone said it was inadvertent. I was calling shenanigans on that." USA Today Sports

Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, Roy Hibbert, Shane Battier 

Chris Tomasson: A day after Roy Hibbert tweet Shane Battier said not talking before a game for 1st time I know of this season Twitter @christomasson

Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, Roy Hibbert, Shane Battier 

Pacers center Roy Hibbert criticized Battier on Twitter on Thursday for a play in Game 1 where Battier kneed him in the midsection on a drive to the basket. Battier was called for an offensive foul. Hibbert said the blow was intentional and was aimed at getting him to not be as aggressive in defending the rim. "I've never seen [Battier] do that before. I didn't think that was cool of him. ... I personally thought it wasn't a regular shooting motion for a layup, his knee was out to begin with," Hibbert said after the Pacers' shootround Friday. "It was him saying, 'I'll hit you first now and maybe you won't be there later on,' and I'm saying I'm going to be there." ESPN.com

Indiana Pacers, Roy Hibbert 

Jeff Zillgitt: Heat's Shane Battier was not available after shootaround to address Roy Hibbert's claim that knee to midsection was on purpose. Twitter @JeffZillgitt

Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, Roy Hibbert, Shane Battier 

Tom Haberstroh: Hibbert tweeted last night because he read someone call Battier's play 'inadvertent.' Hibbert: "That's bulls---." Twitter @tomhaberstroh

Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, Roy Hibbert, Shane Battier 

Stefan Bondy: Hibbert on if Battier does it again, "I have no problem putting my nuts in line of fire. ...They pay me all this money, I got to be there." Twitter @NYDNInterNets

Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, Roy Hibbert, Shane Battier 

Roy Hibbert: U can knee or kick me every time u drive 2the rim. Ill be there 2protect the rim. That wasn't inadvertent. Battier knew what he was doing Twitter

Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, Roy Hibbert, Shane Battier 

Pacers forward Paul George on not having Hibbert in the game: “It was different. I’m used to being aggressive. That’s the reason why I was aggressive. I’m used to having Roy back there. But, again, me being in that situation, I’ve got to know who’s on the floor with me and know what we want from LeBron.” Miami Herald

Indiana Pacers, Paul George, Roy Hibbert 

The coach gone to the interview podium, his teammates showered and dressed, Hibbert made a vow to Yahoo! Sports. Never again does he sit silently with something so important slipping away. Never again. Yahoo! Sports

Indiana Pacers, Roy Hibbert 

"I've grown as a player, this is my fifth year and maybe I need to start talking up more," Hibbert told Yahoo! Sports in the losing locker room. "They pay me [max-contract money] for a reason. "I didn't say anything, and I wish I did. From now on, I need to speak up." Yahoo! Sports

Indiana Pacers, Roy Hibbert 

When it was over, Hibbert desperately wished he had the chance, but make no mistake: He wasn't playing that "I- knew-I-would've-had-it" nonsense. If James had cradled the ball near his body, Hibbert knows he probably could've drawn the foul. Had he extended his reach to lay it on the glass, yes, Hibbert knows he could've blocked James' shot. "But I'm not going to put it all on coach," Hibbert said. "I gave up some possessions, some offensive rebounds. We wouldn't have been in that position if I had handled my business." Yahoo! Sports

Indiana Pacers, Roy Hibbert 

Asked what he thought about leaving Hibbert out of the game, Vogel responded: “I would say we’ll probably have him in next time.” NBA.com

Indiana Pacers, Roy Hibbert 

Ben Golliver: George on Hibbert: "Yeah, I think we all [wanted him in]. He does an amazing job protecting the rim. I'm 100% sure he would have been there" Twitter @blazersedge

Indiana Pacers, Roy Hibbert 

Jeff Zillgitt: Paul George: "I have to understand you have to make LeBron shoot a jumper at that point." Twitter @JeffZillgitt

Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, LeBron James, Paul George, Roy Hibbert 

Jermaine O'Neal: Got to have big fella in there with 2.2 seconds left. "Shot blocking"! got to love the NBA playoffs because its filled with excitement! Twitter @jermaineoneal

Indiana Pacers, Roy Hibbert, Jermaine O'Neal 

Roy Hibbert: I love this team. N I love this coach. Period. #GoPacers #turntup Twitter @Hoya2aPacer

Indiana Pacers, Roy Hibbert 

Mike Wells: Hibbert on winning basket: "LeBron’s layup was one I think I could have gotten cause he served it up." Twitter @MikeWellsNBA

Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, LeBron James, Roy Hibbert 

LeBron James saw that block Roy Hibbert applied on Carmelo Anthony's dunk attempt. He was impressed, mostly because it represented such a huge momentum shift. But this is James we're talking about, the high-flying defier of human capabilities. He seemed offended that a reporter would even ask whether he'd hesitate to drive against Hibbert. "Me?" James said incredulously. "Me?" Reassured the question was about him, James dismissed the notion. "Nah." New York Daily News

Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, LeBron James, Roy Hibbert