Miami Heat v. New York Knicks: LeBron Block Attempt and Foul

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by ballgame99

I had a foul on James (as I stated earlier), but Wade's was clean without question. Wade is vertical and the body contact is created by Melo. It was presented as the "same play" as the James play, but I see it as the opposite of the James play; ie no verticality by the defender with all the contact being created by the defender.

It was basically the same play as Melo was attacking the basket from about the same spot on the floor and the defender and both defenders blocked the ball and had some level of contact. And Melo landed about the same. That does not mean there were not some differences, just a block first and subsequent contact. And if we are worried about James not be as vertical, neither is Melo on either play.

Originally Posted by ballgame99

Doesn't some of this depend on which level you officiate? Someone said you won't last long in the NBA if you call that a foul, and maybe that's true. But on the other hand, I'm not sure if you would last long at the HS level if you didn't. You'd have a brawl every night.

I believe you are right, it does depend on the level you work. But I do not think it is necessary the differences between NBA or HS as an example. If you called these a foul in most HS games I am used to working (big schools), you would be widely criticized for calling a foul. And you certainly would not be in a threat of any brawl on an athlete blocking a shot. As I said I had a very good friend/partner this last year work the State Finals and he called a foul on a similar play that was a little further out form the basket and he called a foul. The overall reaction was that he missed the call and the evaluators said he should have not called the foul. And I have yet to see the video to know how much if any contact the defender was responsible for before or after the call and that was the take. So an official calling these at the varsity level here will not work very long in Boy's basketball and certainly will not work post season if they cannot consistently rule these plays a block.

Peace

[Adam]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

I believe you are right, it does depend on the level you work. But I do not think it is necessary the differences between NBA or HS as an example. If you called these a foul in most HS games I am used to working (big schools), you would be widely criticized for calling a foul. And you certainly would not be in a threat of any brawl on an athlete blocking a shot. As I said I had a very good friend/partner this last year work the State Finals and he called a foul on a similar play that was a little further out form the basket and he called a foul. The overall reaction was that he missed the call and the evaluators said he should have not called the foul. And I have yet to see the video to know how much if any contact the defender was responsible for before or after the call and that was the take. So an official calling these at the varsity level here will not work very long in Boy's basketball and certainly will not work post season if they cannot consistently rule these plays a block.

Peace

I've learned from feedback that fouls on plays like this are best not called. The shot is done, the player lands safely. If players are gong to brawl over little stuff like this, they've got other issues. I can guarantee I'd get more grief for making this call than I'd get for letting it go; even at lower levels.