Thinking about this play...

If the ref thought that B pushed or bumped the non-shooter just to bump the shooter and stop the shot, could the ref call it intentional? Seems to me it's extremely unfair that that shot can be taken away, and the penalty is as if it wasn't on the shot. I mean if B fouls the shooter directly, shooter gets to shoot. So if the ref thought it was just a non-basketball play, so to speak, wouldn't it be reasonable to call it intentional?

Most intentional fouls are judgment calls. You apply the same criteria to all of them...i.e. was the foul committed to gain an unfair advantage?

I agree that if the defensive player intentionally push his opponent into another opponent to prevent a basket from scoring, it should be deemed intentional (regardless of how severe the contact may be).

Generally, if you think the player intentionally pushed his opponent, it's an intentional foul.

yea, you're right. I guess what I"m thinking is, I might be quicker to judge this intentional than most other fouls. I know it's all judgment but, this seems more likely to be intentional just on the face of it. Does that seem reasonable?

Not necessarily. Every play is different. Call them that way. Don't over-think anything and don't prejudge anything either. Just call what seems right and appropriate for that particular play in that particular game.

Jmo.