2012 East Finals: (2) Heat vs. (4) Celtics

[Andrew]

LeBron James laughs at Celtics' theatrics during Heat's dominance in Game 1

They were untangling themselves late in the fourth quarter, eyes staring into eyes, and the derisive words started to spit out of Kevin Garnett's mouth. LeBron James has heard it a hundred times and listened for a moment. Only now, his lips creased, his mouth stretched into a smile, and the NBA's Most Valuable Player began roaring with laughter.

"HAHAHAHA," James blurted, reducing Garnett to the kind of bluster that sounds hollow when you're on the wrong end of the scoreboard. One more devastating James drive to the basket on Boston, one more James trip to the free-throw line, and there was nothing that could come out of Garnett's notoriously nasty mouth to leave him with the last word – never mind the last laugh.

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So...isn't that taunting?

Don't get me wrong, this isn't intended to be an anti-LeBron swipe. In fact, I think it's the right call not to give him a tech and believe that should be standard procedure. However, it makes a lot of technical foul calls look even worse (including Doc Rivers' tech in the same game). If what LeBron did is simply part of the game - and it is - then there's no way they should be calling techs for eye-rolling, the odd exasperated groan after a foul call, the tiniest of staredowns while running back on defense or an innocuous comment from a coach.

They got it right there. Now they need to cut out the nonsensical "taunting" technicals we see far too often.

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No doubt there'll be a fine for that but he's right on the money. It was a terrible call and if he's to be reprimanded for calling it like it is, then Ed Malloy should be reprimanded by the league for such a poor decision.

[benji]

KG's taunting just as much if not more. LeBron was holding out the ball for the ref to come get. KG could have easily walked away instead of trying to intimidate someone.

There's no tech because neither pissed off or challenged the refs authority.

[NovU]

I guess it all comes down to making referees feel good about themselves. That's cute.

Bringing back the issue, I still think Stern's power trip has gone little too far with referees. He's been punishing the players and coaches for crying out for the right calls, but the referees never were disciplined for the wrong calls. Of course, they are prone to make mistakes but too often it's about their feelings.

[benji]

but the referees never were disciplined for the wrong calls

How do you know?

[NovU]

It's been awhile they been throwing out a lot chippy techs.

[benji]

The league doesn't publish referee punishments unless they're suspensions.

The most common punishment for a referee is them not getting more games scheduled.

[Andrew]

Again, I'm all for them not calling a technical on LeBron or KG there, that was the right call (or non-call as the case may be). It's just surprising because we see some really soft technical calls, the slightest roll of the eyes or whatever garnering a T.

[NovU]

That foul call on Rondo was bit too much. Should have been a no-call on both Bron and Rondo. The Heat get a favorable call and now within 8. The Celtics look strong though.

EDIT: Ugly first half. Bot Bron and Wade having a bad game so far. This sure looks different from Pacers series though. Less dirty and more basketball.

[Andrew]

Celtics are definitely in better shape tonight, but there's a lot of basketball left to play. If LeBron and Wade get going, we could well see the game blown wide open in the third again. Gotta hand it to Rondo though, he's on fire with his jumpshots at the moment.

[rise]

Oh shit, forgot there was a game going on tonight. Too busy commiserating in the Bobcats forum on RealGM. Oh yeah, and fuck David Stern.

I see Rondo's on fire.

[NovU]

Didn't know the Bobcats have a forum on internet.

Anyways, Bron is coming alive in 3rd. Certainly looking better than the first half.

EDIT: Tech on KG? He got hit in the face and was challenged by James Jones in the face. How was he supposed to react? Come on referees, might as well skip the game and let the Heat go to the Finals.

EDIT: Clear path foul? More like a crowded lane path foul. But no matter, The king of all chokers misses the free throws anyways. The Celtics are pushing for a nice little comeback now. The batman is on the bench, no surpise.

EDIT: The Celtics takes the lead back by 3 in 4th. Going to be a close one.

EDIT:

EDIT: OT. Wow. Ray Allen hits the game tying 3. Good to see that. Look for Lebron to take advantage of Pierce's absence due to fouling out in OT.
EDIT: Seems like the role players saved the flop and choke this time.

[Mavs4Life]

SMH at LBJ, that was an amazing look on that last one over Rondo.

[NovU]

Rondo got fouled but what a non-call which led to the Heat lead. That's no question. The Heat gonna win obviously on referees' love.

EDIT: Rondo was just amazing. He almost won the game by himself, if it wasn't for that non-call.

[volsey]

Ouch terrible last minute and a half of basketball for Boston. From Rondos no call to Wades feet first and 1, hard to watch as they played such a great game overall.

Pierce has got to play smarter. I understand he's covering the best player in the NBA, but he was being overly aggressive with fouls when it often wasn't even necessary. He's no use on the bench, and was obviously missed in OT. Unreal game from Rondo though, and overall another great game to watch.

[Andrew]

No doubt LeBron's misfires at the end of regulation will draw a few jeers here and there, but I liked that he took those shots and his aggressiveness in the final 30 seconds, even though he came up empty. They were good looks, just inopportune misses. He deserves credit for taking charge and taking on the responsibility in the crunch; he made the right call, the shots just didn't fall on this occasion.

The Celtics had opportunities of their own to win the game in regulation and overall it was a fairly well officiated game, quite a good game to watch. They did get robbed on that non-call involving Rondo though, that should've been two free throws but instead ended up turning the tide in Miami's favour. Still, there were other opportunities that were missed that had nothing to do with the officiating, so while a moment like that does naturally stand out it was still a very winnable game.

Heading home, Boston can still at least make this a series. Spurs/Thunder may still end up being the more entertaining series, but if the rest of the ECF goes the way of this game then it'll be fun one to watch in its own right.

[NovU]

Judging from slow-mos, I would honestly say at least a couple calls(or non calls) favored the Heat. Hard to say they were intentional though. So I can understand Boston fans' frustration. The thought of what could have been should linger in their mind.

I like how the Heat and Celtics are being rather more respectful to each other in this series. Of course there were moments of taunting and so, but I am not seeing any of extreme in-your-face-physical fouls nor too many of dirty plays. When Lebron fell on top of Rondo, Bron helped him up and Rondo gladly accepted his hand. When Jones got upset by KG's reaction to his foul, both teams did a right job and didn't allow it to become anything personal. There were also moments where Wade could have got fouled really hard but didn't happen. Coming off from Pacers series, this is a welcoming news and makes me again realize that there definitely were too much needless emotions involved as well as needless physical plays in that series.

[Spree#8]

Wow, nice job refs. Rondo gets hit in the face with a referee right next to the play and a non-call turning into an easy basket for the Heat was definitely the key moment, putting the Celtics at a huge disadvantage. Wade's and-one was also dubious. Had the Celtics taken game 2, I still don't think they would have won the series, but at least it could have been more interesting. Right now 5 games is probably all we're going to see here. The bad news for Boston is that Rondo is very unlikely to even come close to repeating his yesterday's performance and they still came up empty. It won't help that they're bound to be very tired - Rondo played the whole 53 minutes, Garnett 45, Pierce and Allen both 43. At least Ray seemed to shoot a bit better though he did have at least one airball.

Pierce has got to play smarter. I understand he's covering the best player in the NBA, but he was being overly aggressive with fouls when it often wasn't even necessary.

I guess he was just trying to play aggressively on defense, just like LeBron does and he hardly ever gets called for anything.

[jettdaking!]

i'm not a Heat fan but that 3rd quarter performance was THE way to come back in a game.

[NovU]

Any prediction on game 3? I'll say the Heat by 3 points in a slugfest.

[Andrew]

I say the Celtics will take it and make it a series, in another fiercely contested game.

[jettdaking!]

depends if Rondo isn't exhausted

[NovU]

Both Bron and Wade in foul trouble. Not sure how we are going to win this one. Just don't let it be a blowout.

[benji]

LeBron chokes yet again. Has there ever been a player this terrible getting multiple MVPs?

Heat need to get rid of him and acquire someone who actually knows something about winning. Send him for Tayshaun Prince or Shawn Marion or something.

[NovU]

But what can we get in return? Couple draft picks? The guy's an all time greatest choker. No sane contenders want him.

Boston's role players were superb and Kevin Garnett was also great. Finally, the Celtics played to their strength. Kevin's easy baskets early on made them get the lead.

[Andrew]

Good win for the Celtics, solid effort withstanding that fourth quarter run. I thought the Heat were about ready to raise the white flag in this one, LeBron was really the only one who showed up to play for the first three quarters.

I don't think it'll happen as I still see the Heat coming out of the East, but I wouldn't mind seeing a Spurs/Celtics Finals. Duncan and KG may be edging closer to retirement, but they're having some throwback performances this postseason. It'd be nice to see them clash at least once on the biggest stage before they hang it up. Probably not going to happen unless Miami's role players completely wilt though and even then, LeBron and Wade can probably play out of their minds to eke out two more wins.