planes of the court

[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.