I can honestly understand why they called the flagrant in the situation, even though it wasn't a flagrant. I don't think it normally would have been called as such but it was the second quarter of Game One of a playoff series between two physical teams, both of whom were involved in combative and borderline dirty series in Round One. The refs are setting the tone they don't want dirty play, that's all. That's why Al Horford got a flagrant in the first quarter of Game Five against us when he made a play on the ball against KG but also wrapped him up to keep him from scoring. It wasn't a dirty play and there was a play on the ball, it was simply a situation where the refs don't want to let that one slip and risk escalation. I think that's why they called it here, too.
I also didn't think Lebron was acting, he did whine a lot more than I'd like but he took a lot of physical play and was a man about it for the most part. He is an absolute superstar who was taken out of his game, I'd imagine it was just a frustrating night. He may have mentioned not getting calls, but he didn't blame his performance on that, and honestly, neither did Mike Brown. He made a side note that Lebron didn't get the calls, especially down the stretch (which is true, I think all of his free throws were in the first half). It was just an observation. There was no Phil Jackson-like accusation of one-sided officiating, just a small comment. I had no problem with it. To me, it was more "we tried to have Lebron take it to the lane to get to the free throw line for easy points but it didn't work" not "the refs wouldn't call fouls on the Celtics." For the most part, the officials were pretty hands off and let the players be physical on both sides.
Now, as for throwing a tip to the officials, I agree the Cavs are pretty egregious on push offs and over the backs on rebounding and we should consider a Spurs/Mavs move of sending in some video. I was shocked the only over the back call I saw was the one on Perk when he had his arm hooked by Ben Wallace but still got the rebound, because Wallace was focused more on faking a foul call than getting the ball. I saw Joe Smith plant two hands in Perk's back and push off at one point (fortunately the lose ball went out of bounds for the Cs on that play) and Z pretty clearly crashed into KG's back on the putback that tied the game at 72. Fortunately we overcame it, but Ainge was livid about that one. That's the kind of collage you might send to the league first thing this morning if not last night.
Just like Cleveland is probably going to push (wisely) for more protection of Lebron, the Celtics can't be passive just because they won that game and not worry about the refs do. If the refs keep ignoring the Cavs' fouls down low but start calling them on us for physical defense on Lebron, we're screwed. Have to stay on the ball. Boston accomplished its first objective in this series by taking Game One, as ugly as it was, they have to take Game Two and go to Cleveland with a little less pressure and get the playoff road game monkey off their backs. But it starts with a nice win Thursday night and we need to do whatever it takes to put ourselves in the best position for that game.
Go Celtics.
