NBA rule question

[Adam]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

Do you expect the refs to use, "One Mississippi, two Mississippi, three Mississippi?" Because that is the only way they would know. There is no provision to use any other device and that is why the play stood.

Peace

They used something, because they ended up deciding the play took 4.6 seconds; and resumed play with .5 seconds remaining. Van Gundy is claiming he was told by Javie that they "guestimated" the play took 4.6 seconds. I'm not saying Van Gundy is telling the truth, but given that play resumed with .5 seconds, his explanation seems as plausible as any.

I know the NBA mechanic is to allow play to continue if a play is fully developed in this situation, and determine afterwards how much time should have come off. I wonder if one of the officials caught the stopped clock and started a mental count. But 4.6? Seems awfully precise for a guess.