Tip with .2 seconds waved off

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Player989random

This has to be one of the worst calls I've ever seen. I hate to armchair officiate, but damn was this a bad call. What went wrong? Why did all three of them wave this off? Can anyone defend this call or justify it?

I can't, but I'll be happy to speculate as the Devil's advocate.

Afterward, the referee seems to be explaining his ruling to the table, gesturing with two hands. Perhaps he believed that the tipper actually "caught" the ball with two hands?

What I find fascinating is that all three officials came to the same conclusion at the same time. Perhaps they had a discussion before the play and one of them (the alpha official) convinced the others (incorrectly) that a two handed tip was automatically going to be considered a catch and shoot?

That's all I've got your honor, my client throws himself on the mercy of the court.