Justice prevails: Isaiah's flagrant 2 foul from Sunday's game is downgraded to flagrant 1


Isaiah Thomas' bogus flagrant 2 foul on Justise Winslow that caused him to be ejected from Sunday night's matchup with the Miami Heat has been downgraded to a flagrant 1. While it certainly is nice that league can go back and admit when a mistake was made, that ejection very well could have costed the Celtics a win. The Heat were able to cut a a 12-point lead to four points after IT left the game, but ultimately the C's were able to close them out. Here's a look back at the tape:



Although nobody wants to catch a hard elbow to the face, it was plain as day that Isaiah's hit to Winslow was incidental. Even the Miami big man thought the ejection was completely unnecessary:


Via NBA.com, here are how flagrant fouls are to be applied by the officials:

A flagrant foul-penalty (1) is unnecessary contact committed by a player against an opponent. A flagrant foul-penalty (2) is unnecessary and excessive contact committed by a player against an opponent. It is an unsportsmanlike act and the offender is ejected immediately.Jan 31, 2001

It's hard to believe that play warranting an ejection even in the heat of the moment, but it's truly mind-boggling that the referees watched replays of the play and still categorized that as "excessive and unsportsmanlike". At least for Isaiah's sake he won't incur any fine that can sometimes follow a flagrant 2 now that the foul has been downgraded.

Shout out to the NBA for at least admitting and correcting mistakes they make when they dole out punishment, unlike some of the other leagues...yes, I'm looking at you NFL.


Related: Green Envy: What Heat fans said-12/18

Photo Credit - CSNNE.com

Follow Mark on Twitter: @MarkAL401




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