Boston-Miami Game 1 Recap

Ed Malloy, the NBA official that threw Paul Pierce out of today's Boston-Miami game, is going to have to answer for himself. Pierce was heating up in the second half.

I can halfway understand the double technical fouls for the first play, where Pierce got into it after almost having his head taken off. But to be ejected following a clean screen? Moments later, Dwyane Wade shoved Pierce as he was setting a screen on the baseline but they both drew technicals for talking. It was a clean play if you ask me. You have got to be kidding me otherwise.

The ABC commentators were spot on. So was Michael Wilbon in the postgame show. It was a clean screen that led to a ref ejecting Pierce after he blocked D-Wade from going after Ray Allen.

Boston Celtics Coach Doc Rivers took issue with the fouls that led to Paul Pierce's ejection. I don't blame him for taking issue. Rivers' comments from the postgame:

"I thought James Jones was a clear fragrant," said Rivers. "He just went to the head and grabbed. I thought Dwyane Wade was a definite flagrant. I thought both were flagrants. They were not called. We reacted, and that's exactly what they wanted us to do. So we have to be better than that."

Rivers said he expected Miami's physical play.

"You knew it was coming," said Rivers. "All they did was talk about being physical. That wasn't physical. It wasn't physical. That was chippy."

Officiating aside, Ray Allen led the team with 25 points. The Celtics did manage to outscore the Miami Heat in the second half but the first half deficit was just too much to make up.

Game 2 can be seen on Tuesday night on TNT with Kevin Harlan and Reggie Miller behind the mike.