Throughout the second-round series between the Wizards and Celtics one thing is quite clear, the two teams do not like each other. Just through three games, there have been plenty of trash talk, grand posturing, technicals fouls, stare downs, and even a slight altercation between Kelly Oubre and Kelly Olynyk. For Celtics All-Star Isaiah Thomas, the physical nature of the game is one thing but he believes that things reached a boiling point in Game 3 because of the officials.

Speaking with reporters after Game 3, Thomas called out the officiating crew and believes the Celtics are getting the short end of the stick when it comes to fouls.

From CSN Mid Atlantic:

At the postgame podium, Thomas said officials “couldn't control the game” after the Wizards set a physical tone early.

“It was physical the first two games as well, it just didn't seem like they could control it this game for whatever reason,” Thomas said. It was a theme he kept revisiting in subsequent responses.

When asked how to keep physicality in check going forward, the star point guard again pointed to the refs.

“We have to control ourselves a little better, but the refs have to control the game as well. We can't do it all,” he said. “They hit us first, they had more energy than us, and usually the team that hits first and is more physical, the refs allow them to be more physical throughout the whole game.”

“Avery Bradley is a first-team all defender. He doesn't get the respect he should get on that end of the floor,” Thomas said. “We're playing just as physical as them, but we're the ones getting all the fouls called on us.”

“We call ourselves a defensive team, but if the other team is being aggressive too, I mean they foul every now and then as well as we do. So I just feel like it should be a little more even.”

As CSN Mid Atlantic points out, the Celtics shot more free-throws than the Wizards in Game 3. Boston shot 33 foul shots while Washington shot just 25. So Thomas' claim that the Celtics got more whistles against them is a bit unfounded, especially since each team was whistled for 26 fouls.

Thomas is obviously free to express his frustrations but they may cost him, as the NBA usually fines players for criticizing officials.