Two Points Or Three Points ...

[BillyMac]

I just viewed a video from the IAABO Inside The Lines Video Playbook. The video was a perfect match to 5.2.1.C.b, and correctly ruled as three points. In the video A1 "threw" the ball, 100% certain it was a pass and not a try (ball never got above "head" level until it was "deflected" by B1.

5.2.1 SITUATION C: A1 throws the ball from behind the three-point line. The ball is legally touched by: (a) B1 who is in the three-point area; (b) B1 who is in the two-point area; (c) A2 who is in the three-point area; or (d) A2 who is in the two-point area. The ball continues in flight and goes through A's basket. RULING: In (a) and (b), three points are scored since the legal touching was by the defense and the ball was thrown from behind the three-point line. In (c), score three points since the legal touch by a teammate occurred behind the three-point line. In (d), score two points since the legal touch by a teammate occurred in the two-point area.

5-2-1: A successful try, tap or thrown ball from the field by a player who is located behind the team’s own 19-foot, 9-inch arc counts three points. A ball that touches the floor, a teammate inside the arc, an official, or any other goal from the field counts two points for the team into whose basket the ball is thrown.

After studying the citations listed, I started to think about 5.2.1.C.c, legally touched by A2, a teammate of A1, who is located outside the behind the three-point line. Caseplay says three points.

So if A1, from behind the three-point line, throws a "pass" (100% certain it's a pass) to A2 who is also behind the three point line, and the ball "deflects" off the head of A2 continues in flight and goes through A's basket, it's three points?

While I'm very certain that this play will confuse more than a few coaches (possibly leading to a technical foul), I'm also a little afraid that it will also confuse a few officials.