planes of the court

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by Bad Zebra

My question is: What was the Bird Man doing playing in the Hartford Civic Center? Shouldn't there have been ice on the floor for the Whalers?

Must have been ice on the floor of the Garden that night for the Bruins.

[ODog]

I was in the house the night Bird hit that shot. It was a preseason game in the fall of '86 the season after the Celtics and Rockets played in the Finals.

The Celtics used to play three regular-season games and a preseason tilt in Hartford every year. I don't know when the agreement ended, maybe the early '90s?

As for the OP, I don't think his first question has been addressed (ball hitting the bottom of the padding from behind the backboard). That query seems to have been ignored. My feeling is that's inbounds, regardless of where the ball came from to hit that spot.

Also, the last question is also a good one (ball hitting the top from behind). Based on letter of the rule (ball can't PASS OVER), you could make the case this play is also legal.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by ODog

Also, the last question is also a good one (ball hitting the top from behind). Based on letter of the rule (ball can't PASS OVER), you could make the case this play is also legal.

As long as the ball bounces back behind the backboard, you could rule it legal.

However, if the ball thrown from behind bounces on the top and then continues to the front, it has passed over the backboard and is OOB. And a ball that hits the top and bounces backwards may likely have hit that corner at an angle that should be considered the back of the backboard, making it illegal as well.

[Scrapper1]

Originally Posted by ODog

I was in the house the night Bird hit that shot. It was a preseason game in the fall of '86 the season after the Celtics and Rockets played in the Finals.

The Celtics used to play three regular-season games and a preseason tilt in Hartford every year. I don't know when the agreement ended, maybe the early '90s?

I wasn't there for that shot, but I saw my share of Celtics games in Hartford. Those were fun nights, I have to say.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Scrapper1

I wasn't there for that shot, but I saw my share of Celtics games in Hartford. Those were fun nights, I have to say.

Then fire up the flux capacitor.

NBA Preseason: Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks in Hartford, CT, XL Center (formerly Hartford Civic Center), Saturday, Oct 13, 2012 at 7:30 p.m.

[amusedofficial]

The Celtics played a home game or two in Springfield Mass for many seasons, including when the Hartford roof collapsed. I think they also played home games in Providence over the years and maybe even Worcester Mass.

Relatives tell me they were always well behind Bruins in popularity, even when Celtics won Championships and Bruins missed the playoffs. Through most of their glory years when Celtics were owned by nine owners in 25 years, including an assortment of nutjobs, including the guy who tore down Ebbets Field, a couple of breweries and sketchy investment groups (one included Pat Summerall.)

Celtics attendance was pretty bad. Lot of doubleheaders, lots of Fabulous Magicians and Globetrotter promotions.

[Rufus]

They were called the Heartless Failures for a reason...