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Yet when we take into account 5.3
"If the injured player cannot continue to play immediately (within approximately 15 seconds) or, if he receives treatment, he must be substituted unless the team is reduced to fewer than five (5) players on the playing court"
Doesn't this suggest that there must be five players on the court even during injury. Of course this is not common sense - if a player was to be so sick that I could physically tell they couldn't play, I would allow them to be benched.
However, eg-italy, like you said officials shouldn't attempt to read the mind of the coach - but if the coach says that they want to bench the player because they missed an easy shot, they generally mean it - coaches don't understand how to deceive us properly.
If you can find a solid rule that states a coach could take their fifth player off, let me know - otherwise, rather than letting it come down to interpretation, lets just throw it under the elasticity of the rules and powers of the umpire.
Under your ruling on the issue, a coach could sub off their third, and fourth player as well, and play with two on the court - under FIBA 21.1 the game is lost by default when the team has fewer than 2 players on the playing court, ready to play.
Would you allow them to play with two?
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