Yes, Paul Pierce saved the Celtics’ bacon, Rajon Rondo was great again and Kendrick Perkins was an absolute beast inside, however, the story today is was Rondo’s face-slap foul against Brad Miller a flagrant foul? Opinions are completely divided here. One expert says yes (Jalen Rose), another says no (Tim Legler). One popular blog says yes, another no. You get the picture. So which is it?

The rules concerning flagrant fouls state:

If contact committed against a player, with or without the ball, is interpreted to be unnecessary, a flagrant foul–penalty (1) will be assessed. A personal foul is charged to the offender and a team foul is charged to the team.

PENALTY:
(1) Two free throws shall be attempted and the ball awarded to the offended team on either side of the court at the free throw line extended.

(2) If the offended player is injured and unable to attempt his free throws, the opposing coach will select any player from the bench to attempt the free throws.

(3) This substitute may not be replaced until the ball is legally touched by a player on the court. (EXCEPTION: Rule 3–Section V–e.)

(4) The injured player may not return to the game.

(5) A player will be ejected if he commits two flagrant fouls in the same game.

There area also two degrees of flagrant fouls, with the flagrant two receiving the word “excessive” to go along with “unnecessary” in the NBA’s rules. Essentially, the rules leave the decision to the discretion of the officials. If they deem a foul flagrant, they call it so. Apparently, last night’s officials thought Rondo’s foul was necessary and not excessive — essentially, a good, hard-nosed playoff foul where a larger offensive player got hit by a smaller, quicker guard.

There’s also been a lot made about what would the call be if the tables were turned and it was Miller smacking Rondo across the face while trying to stop a game-tying layup. More than likely, Rondo would’ve been sprawled across the arena had the roles been reversed, and considering the dramatic effect of such a play, the officials would probably protect Rondo in that situation.

Clearly, the lesson is, if you are going to commit a hard foul while trying to avoid the flagrant ruling, make sure you are the smaller player fouling one of the bigs — and to all you bigs out there, if a smaller player hits you like that, go down in the most dramatic way you can think of.

Try channeling the Scarecrow from the Wizard of Oz, perhaps.

Tags: Boston Celtics, Brad Miller, Chicago Bulls, Hard Fouls, NBA Playoffs, Rajon Rondo

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