Cavaliers-Bulls game 5

[JetMetFan]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

That was marginal at best.

1. Marginal doesn't exist. Either it was legal or it wasn't.
2. Here is the NBA's rule on screening (stop me if this looks familiar):

A player who sets a screen shall not
(1) assume a position nearer than a normal step from an opponent, if that opponent is stationary and unaware of the screener’s position, or
(2) make illegal contact with an opponent when he assumes a position at the side or front of an opponent, or
(3) assume a position so near to a moving opponent that he is not given an opportunity to stop and/or change direction before making illegal contact, or
(4) move laterally or toward an opponent being screened, after having assumed a legal position. The screener may move in the same direction and path of the opponent being screened.

In (3) above, the speed of the opponent being screened will determine what the screener’s stationary position may be. This position will vary and may be one to two normal steps or strides from his opponent.

#3 and #4 would be the issue. Gibson created the contact as he was resetting himself. The contact with took place as Gibson's right foot was about to land, so he was moving laterally and he didn't give Dellavadova a chance to stop or change direction.

The fact he finished the play by shoving him to the floor, which may have been a common foul (you'd really have to watch a replay to determine whether the ball was dead), and then kicking him is just the icing on the cake.