What do you have???

[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by mu4scott

(NevadaRef... my fault for not being clear about what I was trying to convey. I've always enjoyed your insights on this board. I think I came across a little rude.)

IMHO....

You have to have a whistle on the drive to the basket. From the angle we have it looks like a block to me. I don't see how you can't have a whistle one way or the other on this play.

White gets two free throws and no goaltending IMO.

Fair enough. I didn't think that you were rude. I just didn't understand what point you were trying to make by posting the video.

In my experience anytime someone posts such a clip that person has a strong opinion about the situation and is looking to share it and get feedback from others.

Therefore, I'll give you my two cents on this play.
1. I believe that the defender established his position on the court prior to the offensive player's second foot leaving the floor (although it is impossible to tell because the official's head obscures the feet of the players). So I believe that he got there in the nick of time. Also, it is my opinion that the defender was not moving towards the opponent and thus did not initiate any of the contact. Therefore, I cannot penalize the defender on this play. I simply can't state anything that he did wrong. So I'm either calling a PC or nothing.

2. Did the amount of contact warrant a PC? Was the defender placed at a clear disadvantage by the contact?
My answers are no to both questions. The attacking player seems to slide to the side and only clip the defender's shoulder and upper body. The defender goes down trying to draw the call. The offensive player gets a bit hurt on his fall because he was at an awkward angle, but he chose to make that move and put himself in that position. I'm not giving him anything that he doesn't deserve just because he stays down.

So my thought is that the official had a poor angle as he got beat in transition, but was fortunate that nothing needed to be called on the play.

In summary even if the action looks very ugly and bodies are on the floor, I have reached a point in my officiating where I can live with no whistle being put on the play, if I truly believe that neither player did anything illegal by rule and that the amount of contact was incidental.