Three point shot from knees
 

Saw this amazing shot initially on Yahoo!

After watching this video, from how I see it, he travels a little before releasing the shot. What does everyone else see?

YouTube - MSU Canaan Sit down 3 pointer

I'm not positive, but it appears that just before he releases the shot, he's holding the ball with both hands and his foot crosses the division line. Should have been a backcourt violation.

Yes his left foot does go over the division line, also when he initially regains possession of the ball, both knees are on the court, however before releasing the ball he brings his left knee up where he's resting on his left foot.

Couldn't that be considered a travel?

+1

Unless he actually attempts to stand, it's nothing. (backcourt ruling not provided here)

On a serious note, I don't think his foot crosses the division line before he released it, but it's close. I love how the announcer is already embelishing:

"3 feet beyond the midcourt line!"

By next week, he'll have hit it from the opposite FT line.

I paused/played it a few times; I don't think he touches the line until after the ball is released. Also, I don't have a travel there. I didn't see an attempt to stand.

Bwahahahaha
 

And I'm sure you would have TWEEEET, come right in, waived off the shot, and called the violation.....right?

That is right before you T'd and tossed the coach for objecting! :p

no travel....

AND no backcourt violation. why you ask?....well....was his foot on the mid-court line or over the mid-court line?.....I say over the line (which of course is not a violation)

GREAT SHOT! should make ESPN's PLAYS of the WEEK - it is still 1990, right?...:)

If I remember the original article right, the play did make the top play of the day on Sportscenter.

As I saw the play the ball itself did not go into the backcourt.

My primary question was the player moving off his left knee onto his left foot, about if that could be considered traveling or not.

1. The ball itself does not have to go into the backcourt. Had his foot touched the line or beyond prior to releasing the shot, it would have been a violation. As it is, it's difficult to tell.

2. No, it's not a travel. Lifting one knee isn't a travel in this case. If it was the only knee down, then it would be. He doesn't stand, or attempt to stand.

I disagree. From two knees to one knee and one foot is a travel. It is part of an attempt to get up.

The video shows otherwise, there is no way this player is attempting to get up, Camron.

This is how I see it as well.

I didn't look at the video, I'm talking in general. Any attempt to improve thier position/stance from the floor is getting up (perhaps just partially).

The only thing a player on the floor is permitted to do (after thier momentum of diving for the ball has stopped) is sit up if and only if they are on their back. Any other movement (more than a little wiggling/rocking) is traveling.

Unless of course......you......

The rule doesn't say they can't "improve their position." It says they can't get up or attempt to get up. It says they can't roll over. I don't see how your position is supported by rule, Camron. Now I've got to go to my car to get the book.

By explicitly saying the player may sit up on their back, that is implying that other movements are not permitted. Rising to one knee/one foot is getting up.

You're basing this inference on a case play, not the rule. The rule just says he can't stand or attempt to get up. That's it. The player in the video doesn't stand, and he doesn't attempt to get up. His left knee comes off the floor as he gathers leverage for a long shot.

I disagree with your reading. The rule provides an example of a movement that's not to be interpreted as "attempting to get up."

That does not imply that it's the ONLY such movement.

Again, I wasn't commenting on the video....I've not seen it.

If a player, on both knees merely raises one as they are passing/shooting the ball...nothing....I agree.

But if they raise their knee then place that foot on the ground as in the first step of getting up, they have traveled.

If you interpret that movement as "attempting to stand," I can agree with it. It's not just the knee coming up, though, it's other movements associated with standing as well. I think you would agree the video is not traveling, as the foot never really gets under the knee. Even if it did, though, I won't call it until the player actually stands or attempts to get up. If he's on two knees, and lifts one to put the foot down and steady himself, I've got nothing except the start of a 5 or 10 count.

Knee Jerk Reaction ???
 

It depends? Did he lift his pivot knee and return it to the floor before the ball was released?

The player in question is from the great state of Mississippi :D and went to Biloxi High (state champs last season).

It doesn't matter in the travel/no travel discussion though. I saw the video once on Sportscenter.

Better watch the video, then comment....

I agree that in this video the foot on the floor does seem to be a part of this unique shooting motion, rather than an attempt to stand. But the other 99% of the time putting a foot on the floor is a logical first step in the process of standing up. So, if a player is on the floor, on his knees or any other body part, if he puts a foot on the floor I don't see how anybody could complain if traveling is called, regardless of what the player thought his intentions were.

Fair enough, but I would prefer to wait until he actually stands.

I just reread this rule and did not realize this is how it was worded.

......while on the floor........may not attempt to get up or stand.

So getting up and standing are two different things, then?

All the more reason this guy better not put that foot on the floor.

I guess my initial reaction took a different tack. In watching the video, my initial judgement was that the player went to the floor for a loose ball. As he secured the ball his momentum caused him to slide and when he came to rest, his knee was in the "Upright and locked position"
As for the over and back, sort of hard to tell with the really cool logo at center court.:D

Why? My comments are not about the play in the video (now said for the 3rd time...or can you not read?) and I have made no claim about what the right call should or should not be on that play. I am only saying how how I distinguish between a travel or legal play. Watching the video will not change that at all.

Do you wait for a fouled player to take a shot before determining they were in the act of shooting? Or are they not shooting if they never actually make it to the "shot"? :D

An attempt doesn't need to be successful or complete to be an attempt.