[DownTownTonyBrown]

Maybe I misinterpreted the scenario. Maybe I shouldn't have brought math into this. But you guys are all neglecting the judgement of the official. If the "shooter" gets creamed in the back court, call the foul. If two players are scrambling for the ball and there is some minor contact don't decide that this is a 3-point attempt and don't call a shooting foul.

I interpreted the description to be the latter case - minor contact, long distance from the goal, short amount of time on the clock. Unless it is obvious there was a shot attempt and that the defense definitely committed a foul on the shooter I am not going to put the shooter 50 feet closer to the basket and let him have a BETTER opportunity to get back in the game.

Some ticky tack calls can be made during the beginning and middle of the game as instructional - this is how we are going to call the game and I won't allow you to do that => foul. At the end of the game you are no longer instructing or establishing boundaries; you are now enforcing what boundaries you have already established. In this scenario, you've got a brand new activity that you haven't seen during the game - a last second hail mary from 70 feet. To late for instruction. People, I'm not going to call a ticky tack foul here. You can if you like BUT I'M NOT GOING TO. All facets of the supposed "shooter's" intent and the foul have got to be obvious in this situation or I'm not going to call a foul. I personally feel that influence the outcome of the game.

I think if you look back at the orginal post you will find that the officials got together and discussed these things. They decided the player was not shooting but that he was fouled - he got a 1 and 1.

We are arguing semantics about the judgement of a play that the vast majority of us did not see. I interpreted it differently than you did.

The original question of this post was why do officials not make the same calls in the last seconds of the game. To me, the answer is simple, IT IS A DIFFERENT SITUATION and they are not the same calls because the situation is different. Additionally, and probably more fundamental, is that the perspective of the team/players who are behind has changed to one of desparation - I've got to work harder, jump higher, play tighter, press my advantage with more vigor, were running out of time; I've got to do this NOW. It is a different ball game. As an official I need to make adjustments to this strikingly different tempo and physicalness. As a player or a fan you may be expecting the same instructional or boundary type calls that were made 20 minutes earlier. It is often not the same game anymore and the different style of play demands different calls to be made and different allowances to be given.

Folks this is just my humble opinion. You can all jump on me now if you feel so inclined... or drop your jaws or whatever.... call a foul... call some lane vioaltions when he misses... keep it close.