Tip my hat to the Celtics, and the Heat and Lebron. Flawless officiating.

[Senninsage]

We played almost perfect tonight. Sure, we missed some crucial opportunities, like on those fast breaks, but we had our chance to win this one tonight, especially when Ray hit that huge dagger 3.

MIami absolutely needed a 3, in my opinion, and they got exactly that. Can't complain with a loss like that. The refereeing, with the exception of one missed double dribble by chalmers was flawless all game, so I can't even complain.

The Celts tried their best, they all did. They gave it their all, but Lebron tonight was just in the zone late, I must say.

Nice try Celtics. This series isn't exactly over. We can definitely win 3 straight, but we've got a tough road ahead of us to stay in these playoffs.

Rondo is forever a champion in my eyes. Just incredible heart from that game. A shame he couldn't get a chance to finish the game.

[SHAQATTACK]

The old Guys and hurt players played their hearts out .  James has endless energy at this age and is indestructable .  Finally mentally he has come of age a bit this year. , to go with his incredible athletic abilitiies.

He is at that level and age where he has everything going,  he can take the team on his back and win when he needs too.

Who ever meets him in the finals is going to have a load to deal with.

[TheBigFive]

Let's not forget Wade is pretty great of himself. That fadeaway 3 he sunk was probably the toughest shot of the game.

What I am most impressed about this Heat team is the way they play defense. Pretty stifling.

[BASS_THUMPER]

enuff with this old guy talk...most yall actin like they need a hoveround..

[PosImpos]

Let's not forget Wade is pretty great of himself. That fadeaway 3 he sunk was probably the toughest shot of the game.

What I am most impressed about this Heat team is the way they play defense. Pretty stifling.

Both teams played really great defense, but yeah, it came down to a few incredible plays from Wade and James.  That's what superstar talent will get ya.  James got the Heat to overtime with a crazy iso 3, and Wade put the nail in the coffin with a really tough fadeaway.

[angryguy77]

Thread title fail

[FatjohnReturns]

The old Guys and hurt players played their hearts out .  James has endless energy at this age and is indestructable .  Finally mentally he has come of age a bit this year. , to go with his incredible athletic abilitiies.

He is at that level and age where he has everything going,  he can take the team on his back and win when he needs too.

Who ever meets him in the finals is going to have a load to deal with.

They will meet Dallas in the Finals. Marion will contain Lebron.
Dallas in 5. Officiating has sucked for the last 10 years.

[Senninsage]

How so, the officiating in this game was as perfect as you'll see in an NBA game. There is zero complaint tonight about the officiating.

We had this game, but we kinda let it slip, but the guys tried their absolute best. Gotta hand it to them.

[Celticsfan336]

How much is Stern paying you to start this thread?

The officiating was once again atrocious. Missed flagrant on Bibby, That was not a charge on Pierce, Chalmers clearly carried the ball, and that PHANTOM foul when Ray had an open layup to win the game.

Not to mention, the Celtics played the farthest from perfect. mabye for the first quarter.
You call 17 points in the last 17 minutes perfect? Not to mention how badly they got outrebounded and turned the ball over?

What game did you watch

[FatjohnReturns]

Officaiting post MJ Bulls title teams has been crap. There used to have to be real contact to be called a foul. Thus fouls were easier to see and resulted in more consistent calls.

The rule changes that eliminated hand checking and allowed more free movement from the offensive made calling fouls more subjective. Different groups of officals call the rules differently especially in the post. Its crap just way too inconsistent just ask Tommy.

[Bahku]

Flawless officiating?!? Sorry, but wow ... just wow.

[lovely_20]

I hope you're being sarcastic.  The officiating was far from flawless.  It was absolutely horrific.

[Tai]

*mumbles something about this series not being over*

[mgent]

Flawless officiating?  Hahahahaha.

We should have been up by 30 in the first half.

[PosImpos]

Flawless officiating is QUITE a stretch but the officiating was not the reason the Celtics lost this game.  They were leading the game in free throws most of the way. 

Tired legs and a hobbled Rondo are the two major reasons the Celtics lost Game 4 -- plus a couple of crazy 3's from James and Wade.