Everyone knows that the intensity of the games gets kicked up a notch once the post-season begins.  Perhaps someone should tell that to referee Ed Malloy, who called the Celtics Paul Pierce for his second technical foul after he set a pick on Dwyane Wade.  Pierce was ejected with seven minutes remaining in the game and the Heat would go on to win by a score of 99-90.

The pick itself barely appeared to be foul worthy.  As for what ensued afterwards, it should make for an interesting debate leading up to Game 2 on Tuesday night.

Here is another look at the weakest call of the 2011 NBA playoffs.

Some big shots and good defense down the stretch helped the Pittsburgh Panthers send yesterday’ Big East battle against Louisville into overtime.  An embarrassing gaffe by a male cheerleader of the Cardinals almost sent it into double-overtime.

Trailing by three with less than ten seconds remaining on the clock in the first overtime, Pitt’s Brad Wanamaker missed an open lay-up to cut the lead to one.  The Cards advanced the ball up the court and Kyle Kuric’s slam dunk with only 0.5 seconds remaining appeared to seal the victory for Louisville.  While most fans at the KFC Yum! Center were in celebration mode at that point, one over-exuberant member of the Cardinals’ cheer squad took things a little too far, stepping onto the court and tossing the ball into the air with time still remaining on the clock.

That foolish mishap earned the Cardinals a technical foul, giving the Panthers’ Ashton Gibbs two shots from the line.  He would hit both, giving Pittsburgh one last shot to tie the game.  Gibbs would miss, however, saving the Cards’ male cheerleader from the agony of becoming Louisville’s very own version of  the Cubs’ Steve Bartman.

Following the game, Louisville head coach Rick Pitino joked that this would be the end of the male cheerleader, stating that “it was good while it lasted,” before informing us all that “you could actually lose a game like that.”

We are well aware Rick.  We almost witnessed it right before our eyes yesterday afternoon.

And for those of you who didn’t, here it is.

In a feisty Saturday afternoon affair that saw 43 fouls and three technicals handed out, Pitt prevailed against Villanova, ending the Wildcats’ 46-game win streak at The Pavilion.  As for the turning point of the game, that would come less than four minutes into the second half, after Nova’s Isaiah Armwood connected on a right hook to the face of Pitt’s Nasir Robinson.  Armwood delivered the punch while seemingly attempting to put his arm around teammate Mouphtaou Yarou, but after an official review it was determined to be worthy of a technical foul.

The Panthers would go on a 19-6 run following the punch and never trailed again, hanging on for the 57-54 victory.

The win gives Pittsburgh a remarkable 11-1 record in Big East play, putting them one win ahead of Notre Dame (10-3), and two up on Georgetown (9-3).  When you consider the fact that Pitt remains on top of the Big East Conference, which currently has six teams ranked within the Associated Press’ Top 12, it is hard to believe that they will not be ranked number one come Monday, after former No.1 Ohio State lost its first game of the season.  But with Kansas and Texas both ranked two and three headed into last week, it is unlikely that the Panthers will be able to play leapfrog with the two Big 12 schools.  Although, that doesn’t really seem to matter to them, according to starting guard Brad Wanamaker:

“(W)e want to be in the conversation among the elite at the end of the season, not now. When they start talking about the national championship, that’s when we want to be talked about.’’ [ESPN]

Well the Panthers certainly seem to be on the right path, and it is going to take more than just a single punch to knock them off it.  Armwood tried that already and failed.  You can check it out below.

After Kevin Garnett was ejected from last night’s exhibition game against the New York Knicks, Heinsohn made his feelings heard loud and clear to those watching the game on CSN New England.

Although we will refrain from throwing a tantrum similar to that of Heinsohn, we can’t help but agree with the former Celtic. If the technical fouls continue to be handed out like they are Chinese take-out pamphlets, the NBA may want to consider expanding roster sizes significantly.

Sound stupid?  Well that’s because “It’s stupid!”

With the series tied 1-1, the Magic will now await word as to whether Rafer will be suspended for his actions.  When asked about taking Alston’s five fingers across the face, House replied “All I did was hit a shot, turn the other way and I got hit upside the head.  I guess he was tired of getting hit upside the head.” (TSN.ca)

What better way to show the slap than inserting some 2pac lyrics and slowing it down a bit.  Eddie House didn’t seem to mind the slap after the game, claiming that the busch league tactics were expected after he was busting up Alston’s ass.  Check out the slap and Eddie House’s post-game interview below.

Tempers began to heat up with less than a minute left in the 3rd quarter after Lakers guard Derrick Fisher laid a vicious body check on Rockets forward Luis Scola, knocking him flat on his back and drawing the attention of the refs and opposing players.  It didn’t end there.  Midway through the 4th quarter, after getting tangled up under the basket, Ron Artest took an elbow to the neck from Kobe Bryant that went undetected.  After letting the official know what he thought, he went over to Kobe to confront him, and was ejected as a result.  Artest continued to try and get at Bryant, but was held back by teammates.

Later in the game, Kobe was also assessed a technical for taunting Shane Battier, whose hard work was not enough to slow down Kobe and his 40 points.  With the series headed to Houston for games 3 and 4, it will be interesting to see if the respective coaches can settle their teams down, or will we witness another feisty affair as the Rockets look to upset the Western Conference favorite Lakers.

Here are the clips of Fisher and Artest’s ejections as well as some post game comments.