Whistle or Not?

[footlocker]

Originally posted by MOFFICIAL
My opinion is at least if you stop it when you knew it happened then the inbounding team would definitely know the amount of time they had to work with.

I agree with this. I understand that your stopping play to reset changes the opportunities that the offense has. Stopping the game will allow the defense to get set. Look at it another way though...

Players are not taught to look at the clock the same way that we are. It's different. Player inbounds the ball to a guard, presumably. The guard is bringing the ball up the court and takes a quick glance to determine time left. She sees a number that is greater than what is in your head. She decides there is enough time to pass to an open shooter (instead of taking that desperation shot). You whistle it dead and say that time has expired.

You see. The only reason not to stop the game initially was to maintain the advantage for the offense. Instead you have inadvertently fooled them into thinking there was more time. An obvious disadvantage.

I have never encountered this situation. Thanks for bringing it to the forum and being open-minded in the discussion. This will help me call it right in the future.