Quote:
Originally Posted by JetMetFan
NBA Rule 4, Section X
The act of shooting starts when, in the official’s judgment, the player has started his shooting motion and continues until the shooting motion ceases and he returns to a normal floor position.
NBA Comments on the Rules, 4C
A defensive player is not permitted to move into the path of an offensive player once he has started his upward motion with the ball to attempt a field goal or pass.
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Upward motion, as it relates to the act of shooting, is only important when the defense is taking a foul on the perimeter (and the shot/game clock is not about to expire)...in this case, the offensive player would have to started his upward motion with the ball. Also, when an offensive player is doing a rip move in an attempt to get a shooting foul (a go to move for Kevin Durant), it's not a shooting foul if the contact is during the side-to-side motion, but a shooting foul if the contact occurs on the upward portion.
Those specific special situations aside, upward motion only deals with block/charge plays and not with being in the act of shooting. If the player gathers the ball, gets fouled, doesn't put the ball back on the floor, and shoots the ball...and assuming he doesn't put the shot up as an afterthought (and this would have to be Stevie Wonder clear)...then count the basket.