[BillyMac]

The thread on "fifth foul" mechanics got my thinking.

Blue team versus white team. Each team has an all-state seven footer, while all the other players, on both teams, are six feet, or less.

Third period. For whatever reason, blue has used all of their timeouts. For whatever reason (catch their breath, don't pick up another foul, etc.), both seven footers are on the bench. Blue has a six foot forward at the table ready to substitute at the next opportunity.

White's five foot two point guard picks up is fifth foul. Official reports the foul to the table, is told by the table that it's the player's fifth foul, the official tells the white coach about the fifth foul, and then tells the table to start the twenty second replacement clock. Warning horn sounds after five seconds. A split second before the twenty second horn sounds, white coach sends in the seven footer to replace the little point guard. Official beckons in both the white seven footer, and the blue six foot forward.

It's too late for the blue coach to send in his seven footer. Now the white team has a distinct advantage with nobody to guard the seven footer.

Is this the way the replacement rule works? I know that the replacement interval is not a timeout, but I'm often perplexed by the subtleties of this rule. During this twenty second replacement time interval, when can we let substitutes in, and which substitutes can we let in, and when is it too late to let anybody in? Man, I'm so confused. Please help me.