Game 1 ECF Analysis: Crawford/Malloy Show

It was as if NBA officals' Danny Crawford and Ed Malloy thought everyone tuned into game one of the Eastern Conference Finals to see them ref.  In all seriousness the Celtics got whapped with a total of five technical foul calls throughout their game one meeting with the Heat.  The five T's however were not the down fall for Boston in this one.  As expected the Celtics looked like they left their legs and star player Paul Pierce in Boston.  (Celtics' Head Coach Doc Rivers reportedly plans to pick up both at the Miami International Airport this afternoon, well before game two tips tomorrow night.)  In a nutshell the Celtics appeared tired even though they went nuts in the second quarter dropping 35 points on the Heat and tying the game at 46 before the half.  Eventually James and Wade pushed the gas and pulled away from the Celtics for a 93-79 win, snagging a 1-0 series lead.

The Celtics need not panic.  Even though about 80% of game one losers go on to loose the series; this game went as predicted.  The Celtics were tired and the Heat attacked them like hungry wolves who had been lying in wait watching their future opponent grow weaker and weaker.  With only one full day of rest prior to game one, the Celtics didn't have enough steam to pull this one out. 

They played hard and kept the game close until the end, which should give them some confidence going forward.  Kevin Garnett played big for Boston with 23 points and 10 rebounds, but Paul Pierce was no where to be found in 40 minutes of action.  Rajon Rondo added 16 points, not nearly enough fight out of a guy they need to explode in every game this series.  Throw in Ray Allen's disappearing act and you have to say that Boston came out pretty good last night, despite the loss. (Quick sidenote: the Celtics went 11-21 from the stripe.  Missed free throws killed them in game one).  

Eerily enough this game played out very similarly to game one of the 2011 NBA Finals.  The Heat dictated the tempo then and over powered the Mavericks down the stretch for a 92-84 win.  Everyone knows that Dallas went on to win the championship in six games despite dropping game one on the road. 

Fast forward to the 2012 Eastern Conference Finals and the Heat did the same last night in game one as they did a year ago in the Finals against Dallas.  Miami wore down their weak prey by dictating the tempo as the game progressed and eventually went for the throat late in the second half.  By the time Miami sank their teeth into the throat of the Celtics; Boston had no fight left in them to break free from the jaws of the Heat.

The Heat scored 26 in the third and 21 in the fourth and kept Boston from breaking 20 points in either quarter of the second half.  James and Wade combined for 54 points last night and left the Celtics for dead.

Now the focus for Boston turns to game two.  The Celtics are now homed in on South Beach.  They should get plenty of rest seeing that they don't have to board a plane for a three hour flight anywhere after the game one loss.

A new officiating crew will be calling game two.  The Celtics should drop the referee drama and focus on getting their stars going.  It all starts with Rondo, who can get the Celtics playing at a pace they are comfortable with.  If  Boston can accomplish this then they can do what Dallas did a year ago and steal game two after losing game one.  If they can't then the Heat will duplicate their performance from game one and leave Boston staggering trying to find their way home for game three.   

Ed Malloy shows his love for Doc Rivers.  This is one of five technical fouls called on the Celtics last night.  Notice the Celtics are wearing their alternate road uniforms, not cool. (Video provided by YouTube)