The NBA slapped new Boston Celtics forward Paul George with a meager $2,000 fine for flopping during Tuesday’s 121-113 season-opening loss to the Detroit Pistons, the league announced Wednesday.

The penalty stemmed from a fourth-quarter sequence with roughly three minutes remaining in regulation. Pushing the ball in transition, George made contact with Detroit guard Duncan Robinson before dramatically collapsing to the floor in an Oscar-worthy attempt to bait a whistle.

On-court officials swallowed their whistles in real time, but the league office retroactively assessed the violation upon postgame video review.

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Under NBA regulations, postgame flopping penalties begin at $2,000 on an escalating scale. For a superstar commanding nearly $50 million this season, the fine amounts to little more than loose couch cushion change.

Tuesday's physical opener frequently devolved into a four-quarter flop-fest with players repeatedly hitting the deck on contested shots, yet George was somehow the only player singled out to receive an invoice from league officials.

The slap on the wrist capped an otherwise strong Celtics debut for the nine-time All-Star, who was putting on an absolute clinic.

George poured in 38 points on 12-of-21 shooting from the floor, including 7-of-12 from beyond the arc. He added five rebounds, five steals, and three assists in 31 minutes, breaking the franchise record for points in a Boston debut previously held by Kristaps Porzingis.

George's individual performance was ultimately spoiled by Boston's collapse. The Celtics squandered a 22-point advantage, largely undone by a sickening 23-0 Detroit run in the fourth quarter led by Robinson and Cade Cunningham.

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With Jayson Tatum struggling through a dismal 6-of-23 shooting performance, George carried the offense until Boston’s execution fell apart in the closing minutes.

Because the flopping infraction carries no suspension, George remains fully cleared to suit up Friday when Boston hosts his former team, the Philadelphia 76ers.

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The NBA is here, and I am like a kid in a candy store. The NBA is my favorite league, and basketball is my favorite sport. This also means that all four leagues are in action starting now. The World Series is on Friday, the NFL is on Thursday, and the NBA and NHL play every day. This is the best time of the sports year. College basketball will join the fray shortly, and of course, college football is in action. This afternoon, the NBA season kicks off with the Boston Celtics playing the Detroit Pistons.

The Boston Celtics are at a bit of a crossroads. Last season, they were up 3-1 on the 76ers before they lost the final three games, including a game at home, and were knocked out of the playoffs. How did the Celtics respond to that loss? They decided it was time for them to part with a superstar, Jaylen Brown. In fairness, Brown was expressing discontent with the organization and clearly didn't want to be partnered with Jayson Tatum.

The Celtics made a clear choice, and now they have to live with it. Tatum will now be in his first full season after tearing his Achilles in the playoffs a couple of years ago. Tatum shouldn't have any struggle with being the top option on the team. However, he has always had excellent secondary options. I'm not sure Paul George or Derrick White will be at the same level as what he had with Brown. Mitchell Robinson should help the defense and rebounding, but he's injured regularly. This could be a tough year for Boston.

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The Detroit Pistons lost 68 games in the 2023-24 season. Take a second read of that sentence. They lost 68 games in one season. They won 44 games the next year and made the playoffs. Last season, they won 60 games and a playoff series. The next step forward would be to win another series in the playoffs and make the Eastern Conference Finals. Cade Cunningham is the leader of this team, and his health pretty much dictates how well this team will do.

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The Pistons are relatively deep as a club. They have elite shooting from deep with Duncan Robinson. Ausar Thompson is one of the better young forwards in the league. He needs to take a big step forward this season on offense if the team wants to improve from last year. John Collins will add some rebounding and athleticism, but he isn't as good a shooter as Tobias Harris. Jalen Duren was signed to a long-term deal, but there are still talks about trades for Domantas Sabonis.

For tonight's game, the line has moved in favor of the Celtics, and I'm just not sure that I see it. I don't think the Celtics are that impressive a team. They have the advantage with Paul George, but I think the interior of Detroit is better than the interior of Boston. I'm going to back the Pistons on the moneyline here. Sharp money says otherwise, so it is a risk, but I think them at home, with a better interior, against a team with two new starting lineup pieces is a better look. Give me Detroit.

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