[ChuckElias]

The key word in the NBA rule is "directly". The way the rule is generally called is that if the ball passes directly over the middle of the board (like when it hits the rim and then bounces up and over), this is a violation. If the ball passes over a corner or near the edge of the backboard, this is not considered to be directly over the backboard, and is generally not called.

I'm packing up my house for a move, so I can't lay my hands on my Q&A. I don't know if there's a specific case play or not, but that's how it was explained to me.