Closely guarded

[bob jenkins]

Originally posted by cowbyfan1

I am reading this that if a defender is within 6 feet of the Offensive player with the ball, the offensive player has 5 seconds to get rid of the ball.
But I also read it that if the offensive player is dribbling the ball and stops dribbling, the 5 second count stops and a new one starts, meaning he now has 5 more seconds to pass the ball (or shoot). Am I interpeting this correctly?

Yes. A closely-guarded player could hold for 4.99999 seconds, dribble for 4.99999 seconds and hold again for 4.99999 seconds w/out committing a violation

Also if a defender is 6 feet from the player do you not overly concern yourselves with the count? In other words, does the defender have to make a more serious attempt to play defense say from 2, 3, or 4 feet away as opposed to 6?
For example defense is in a 2-3 zone with the guards on the foul line and the point guard dribbles to just off the top of the key. The defensive guards make no attempt to move towards the ball handler. They are obviously within 6 feet of one another, do you start your count?

Ignoring your math (if the dribbler is at the top of the key, a defender on the FT line would need to be at the center of the FT line to be within 6 feet), as a practical matter, count when there's actual guarding.

What if the ball handler backs away and is now 7 or 8 feet away, do you stop the count if the defense does on follow?

thanks.

Yes -- as soon as the 6' distance is exceeded, stop the count.