Free Throw Lane

[PG_Ref]

[QUOTE=Refsmitty;719217]If defenders do not want the top two lane spaces - nearest the thrower... can the offense take them. Reading the rule below I would say no, but I always thought that if the defense didn't want the the offense could occupy.

Rule 8.1.4
During a free throw, lane spaces may be occupied as follows:
a. Marked lane spaces may be occupied by a maximum of four defensive and
two offensive players.
QUOTE]

If opponents of the free thrower choose not to utilize those 2 spaces, then team mates of the thrower may move up if the want to (don't know why they would want to though). But there can only be 2 team members of the free thrower.