Quote:
Originally posted by Jerry Blum
I understand what is being said about advantage/disadvantage but I think some of you are expanding that concept a little too much. I look at it regardless of what is going on with the ball if the contact away from the ball is bad enough to warrant a foul then it should be called whether the ball goes in or not. Basically I see it as A2 is gaining an advantage over B2 because they are getting position illegally. I am tempted to think that going with the definition being used in this case to justify not calling a foul because of advantage/disadvantage you could also say that if the ball does miss yet it comes off of the rim to the opposite direction of where A2 is then there is no advantage gained, and I personally think that would be called as well.
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Your second situation (ball rebounds away) differs from the first. I would say if the shot doesn't fall, an advantage may have been gained and it is up to you to make that determination. You wouldn't be wrong to whistle it. Suppose it is A2 pushing B2 and A3 gets the rebound. Now B3 may be forced into defending A2 and A3 because A2 is out of position. That is an advantage for A through illegal contact - call the foul. If there is a rebound, call what you must to keep the game good.
But if there is no rebound, I cannot agree with your conclusion that A now has some sort of advantage through A2's push, or B through B2's push - whichever team committed the push, no advantage. They had a
potential advantage until the shot went in, at that point, no advantage. B is inbounding on the baseline, push or no push, and the push during the shot has no impact on that play.
One thing that is a fundamental precept of refereeing in all sports is call only what you need to call. The game is so much better that way.