Pacers respond to Bird's soft comment

Larry Bird called the Indiana Pacers soft. Players agreed with their team president.

Bird told The Indianapolis Star early Wednesday that he ''can't believe my team went soft,'' making the comments not long after the Pacers were beaten 115-83 in Game 5 of an Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Miami Heat.

Miami leads the series 3-2, with Game 6 Thursday in Indianapolis.

The Pacers practiced in Miami before flying home Wednesday. Indiana forward Danny Granger says the team got ''beat up, we got bullied and we really didn't respond well'' in Game 5.

Granger sprained his ankle in Game 5. The Pacers hope he can play Thursday. Granger also says he expects the league to sanction Heat players Udonis Haslem and Dexter Pittman for flagrant fouls committed Tuesday night.