[Joe]

Originally posted by BktBallRef
I don't disagree. However, there's nothing in the post that indicates who left the floor first.

In the Van Exel case Nick was a foot or two behind the 3 point arc, faked a shot, the defender jumped sideways to Nick, parallel to the line, and 2-3' INSIDE the line.
Van Exel jab steps 2-3' across the line, stepping well
inside the arc, then jumping into the passing defender.
Threw up a prayer (missed by 15+ feet, not really even a shot attempt). Was awarded *3* free throws (that was the
other question: shouldn't that be reviewable like a shot?).

Often in the Reggie Miller cases the defender jumps within
his vertical plane, and after the defender is in the air,
Miller lunges in and under and throws up a shot. The other
Miller trick is extending his legs outside his vertical plane on jumpers, hooking the passing defender. Far more often than not Miller gets those calls. I've NEVER seen him
called for those kind of offensive fouls. I remember reading
an NBA official's interview, and he admitted they were well
aware of Millers tricks, but that he was so good at them it was hard to catch him, and he often benefited from bad calls.

"Protect the shooter."

I agree! But....*IF* the defender jumps first, and will land
well outside the shooter's vertical, the defender does not extend his arms, shouldn't the airborn defender be given the same protection according to the rules? Or at least the
benefit of a no call?


"If I see a player running at me, there's nothing that prevents me from jumping into his path while in the act. In such cases, the cardinal rule of jump shooting is usually going to apply, "Protect the shooter."