Lodged ball.

[Mark Dexter]

Originally posted by ChuckElias
My phrase would also cover hanging banners or other decorations or even a stray bird, which are clearly not equipment.

Forgive me for playing the Devil's Advocate of the Devil's Advocate . . .

Are you saying you wouldn't rule a ball which hit an overhead banner out of bounds? (Or that you would consider that the rules state this is not out of bounds?)

Guys and gals, let's remember one thing - this is basketball.

It's not arena football.

It's not indoor soccer.

It's not pool/billiards.

You're supposed to use the floor and (in some cases) the backboard to dribble and hit the ball off of (maybe a player or ref, too.) If you still don't agree that this is "overhead equipment," invoke 2-10 (along with some common sense) and call it an extension of the ceiling.