Loose Ball: Foul or Not

[johnny d]

Originally Posted by JetMetFan

I don't know if positioning is a huge issue here. I've heard it a lot the past couple of years: officiate what's in front of you, not what may happen. There was a scramble on the floor and he stuck with it until it became apparent Houston had the ball. By the time he turned to go guys were already at the division line. It happens. I don't think his angle was that bad that he couldn't see Blake's contact on Lin.

I agree with you that the official was correct in staying with the play during the scramble for the loose ball and that Houston controlling the ball put him at a huge disadvantage relative to the players that were already leaking out to go the other way.

I have to disagree when you say that his angle wasn't so bad that he couldn't see Blake's contact. From where he was at, he probably could see the contact, but I don't think he could see how much better postion Lin was in to get to this ball than Blake. From the angle the official was at, which is pretty similar to the first views of the play, this looks like a 50/50 play and I would go with incidental contact if that was our only view. I am not faulting the official from going with that call based on where he was. With the benefit of looking at the replay from the other angles it is clear that Lin is going to get the ball until Blake contacts him from a disadvantageous position. Therefore, I think the correct call was a foul on Blake. Again, given the circumstances and the positioning of the official, I think he made the best decision he could based on what he could see.