Let the Players, Play - 13abc.com Toledo (OH) News, Weather and Sports

Boston Celtics vs Miami Heat - Please tell me you were surprised to see the half-time score after seeing the start of the game.

I am wondering, if it was really due to Boston's lack of being "ready"?

Or did having FIVE technical fouls called on the Celtics have an impact?

Here is my connection with the NBA, or what used to be my connection.

I was a physical player in college who loved contact, and when I couldn't make that contact I would FREAK.

I can honestly say, I learned it from watching the NBA.

Then, the rules changed, contact became limited, and the referees became more involved.

Hence Game 1 of the Celtics vs Heat which can be summed up in two words.

Ed Malloy.

3 technical fouls in the 2nd quarter: one on Ray Allen, one on Kevin Garnett and then one for Celtics Head Coach Doc Rivers.

2 more in the third called on an illegal defense and then guard Rajon Rondo.

This is one of those times when I think it is appropriate to just say: C' MON MAN, we are in the Playoffs!!!!

As if the rivalry isn't heated enough knowing that LeBron James is on the hunt for his first-ever NBA title (hmm), and not to mention Dwayne Wade ripping Rondo's arm out of the socket a year ago, now referees want to decide who wins?

In my personal opinion, especially at the PRO level, let the players decide the outcome, not ticky-tack technical fouls.

Whether you want to believe it or not, one T after the other compounds the earlier calls and make them less defensible.

Rivers said it himself - probably the worst call ever was that T he got last night.

Yet after it is all said and done, back to my proposed question to you - Do those calls have any correlation to the outcome of last nights game or rather any game for the matter that involves 5 T's?

Same idea going from the hardwood to the diamond.

Detroit Tigers Manager Jim Leyland was tossed last night as his team lost to the Boston Red Sox 7-4, a loss that stemmed from an umpire's critical call.

Is there any correlation to that loss too last night where the umpires got involved?

Or has the idea of 'let the players, play" been misconstrued?