MIAMIThe Boston Celtics' 93-79 Game 1 loss to Miami was not determined by the way the game was officiated.
But it certainly didn't help the Celtics' cause.
Boston was whistled for a total of five technical fouls which accounted for just three additional points for the Heat.
But there was no mistaking that the calls certainly threw the C's off stride.
Celtics coach Doc Rivers was among the Celtics who were hit with a technical foul. Joining Rivers were his players Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo. Boston was also hit with a pair of delay of game calls which is an automatic technical foul, as well as a defensive three-second call.
When asked about his technical and whether the other four were deserved, Rivers responded, "I know mine wasn't. I can tell you that much. I don't know how long I've been in the league, but that has to rank as the worst I've ever had. I would have loved to earn it."
While none of the technicals were picked up in the fourth quarter, Rivers acknowledges that picking up technicals, regardless of what's going on at the time, simply cannot happen for the Celtics against a team like the Heat.
Boston Celtics
"We should never get them, anyway," Rivers said. "I told our guys that."
Allen's technical foul came in the second quarter when, after he was whistled for a foul, he did a hop and a skip towards the Celtics bench which moments later, resulted in official Danny Crawford whistling him for a technical foul.
Rivers picked his up later in the quarter from official Ed Malloy.
Technicals often serve as a sign of a team that's simply lacking the kind of focus and control of emotions needed.
"Everybody has to keep their composure," Rivers said. "Not just the players and the coaches."