ClutchCity.net Game Thread: Clippers @ Rockets 3/12/2003

Like someone said above, I don't like that the Rockets won due to a disgusting call by the refs as a matter of principle, just like I didn't like how the Wizards beat the Rockets in Washington because the refs are too scared to call anything against his Airness. What ever happened to winning because you actually play better than the other team within the rules?

Having said that, 5 weeks is a pretty long time, and by then if we squeak into the playoffs a game ahead of the 9th place team, by then I'll have had a long time to cool off and wouldn't mind the playoffs.

 

i feel better now

 

There's no way Andre was going to make that second free throw. He couldn't shoot it anywhere close to his normal style because the ref would have called a lane violation.

This game was far more than this one call-- the whole thing was back and forth and I'm sure there were other bad calls elsewhere that could have led to points for eitehr side. Overall, I actually thought it was pretty well reffed and VERY well played (great performances all around). But this is a great example of a ref intervening in the outcome, not just making a bad call. That is the kind of fodder for conspiracy theorists, and it has no place in the NBA. There needs to be some accountability for this kind of BS.

 

man what a game. Thank god the rockets pulled the win out of this one. I for one thought it was over when we were down 5pts and under a min left in the game. wow. all i have to say about it....wow.

Clips..unbelieveable shooting. But we survived the onslot. GO rocks! To the Playoffs. Will be at the next game! go rocks!!!

 

lucky thats what we where

 

to all of you who went to the game and left with 48 seconds left..ha ha ha ha..shame on you !!! "never under estimate the hearts of the champion"

 

I'm just amazed at the free throw percentages the rockets had tonight... wow!

 

A shooter doesn't have to step over the line to get called for a lane violation (the rule does not specify a body part that qualifies the violation), and for a good portion of Miller's free throws he was cheating the line by leaning during the shot, though the last one was questionable at best.

 

LOL.....

we got SOOOOOOOOOO lucky man.....

thank you refs..

if clippers complain.......we should retaliate cuz they did not make many calls for yao..........they were holding him and preventing him from getting any sort of rebound....... but that left mo taylor wide open.

ANYWAYS.

who cares if it was a bad call....

goly...a miracle!!!

IF ANYONE RECORDED THE GAME......I WILL BUY THE TAPE FROM YOU!!!!!!! awesome happy game

 

I didn't like the call, l I have to admit. However, it isn't the first time I've seen someone get nailed for leaning over the line before the shot hits rim/net. I don't know why they felt they had to change the rule enforcement this year anyway. It's kinda boring if the defensive team gets all the rebounds off free throw misses, if you ask me.

 

there's always the replay at midnight..and if you have direct tv..they show it again tomorrow morning...

 

Didn't Miller get called for this same imfraction against the Rox late in the game, earlier this year in LA? Almost cost them that game too.

You'd think he'd have learned his lesson by now.

 

The bottom line is that Andre didn't have any kind of violation on that call (feet or otherwise), and that was plain-as-day. But the ref was itching to call it. I honestly don't think he thought there was a violation either (if he did, he's blind and shouldn't be reffing), and therin lies the problem. Refs make bad calls all the time, but only rarely do you see a case where they clearly are deciding on an outcome before seeing the play.

But, good win for you guys. Those threes didn't go in by themselves. I love what Yao is bringing to the league, and I'm rooting for you to make the playoffs (so I suppose this helps). Major bonus points for ousting the Lakers.

 

You can blame Mark Cuban for that. He made a big deal about Shaq last year.

 

a quote from the nba.com rules/regulations section:

"d. The free throw shooter may not cross the plane of the free throw line until the ball touches the basket ring, backboard, or the free throw ends."

so maybe it wasn't a completely wrong call - just wrong because it decided the game....

by the way, the clippers announcers mentioned that francis had been bugging the refs about lane violations by miller earlier in the game - if so, what a great way to work the refs.

 

How can the Rockets say they are ready for the playoffs or don't take teams lightly anymore and then go out and play ZERO defense.

Luck was on our side tonight, but this team is still a bunch of chickens.

DD

 

As it was said on 610 AM, the foul on Posey shouldn't have even been called. We deserved to go into OT. Good thing it happened that way.

 

Don't get too high after this game, but seeing how low we, as a board, get after every loss, i know that's going to be impossible.

 

For those that think Miller actually did commit a free throw violation because he leaned across the line before the ball got to the rim, here is the rule from NBA.com:

The best way that I interpret this is that crossing the plane of the free throw line means stepping across the free throw line, which Miller clearly did not do before the ball went in the bucket.

Otherwise, almost every player in the NBA, heck, almost anyone that plays basketball, period (myself included) violates this rule every time they shoot a free throw, as your arms cross the plane of the free throw line on your follow through, BEFORE the ball gets to the rim. Heck, even your knees might cross the plane of the free throw line at the beginning of your shot depending on how far down you bend. The only players that would not violate this interpretation of the rule are Nick Van Exel, T-Mac, and Cato (did I leave anyone out?) since they stand like a foot behind the FT line and probably never break the plane of the free throw line.


So there are two possible interpretations, right?:

1. Like I said, a player may not step across the line before the ball reaches the rim.

-OR-

2. A player's LOWER BODY, NOT COUNTING HIS ARMS, may not cross the plane of the free throw line before the ball hits the rim.


If 1, then Miller did not commit a violation. Replays clearly showed he stepped across the FT line well after the ball went in the bucket, not even close. Since this is exactly what Shaq used to do all the time before this season (step across the line before ball hits rim), I think this interpretation reflects the intent of the rule.

If 2, then Miller was guilty (i.e. he leaned across), but the rule is badly worded and needs to be rewritten.

 

I found some clarification on the rule in the nba rule book.

[url]http://www.nba.com/analysis/rules_10.html?nav=ArticleList[/URL]


Section I-Free Throw
a. After the ball is placed at the disposal of a free throw shooter, his attempt shall be within 10 seconds in such a way that the ball enters the basket or touches the ring before it is touched by a player. The shooter shall be within that part of the free throw circle behind the free throw line.
b. A player shall not touch the ball or basket while the ball is on or within the basket.
c. A player who occupies a free throw lane space shall not touch the floor on or across the free throw lane line, nor shall any player 'back out' more than 3' from the free throw lane line. A player who does not occupy a free throw lane space must remain behind the three-point line. This restriction applies until the ball leaves the free thrower's hands.
d. The free throw shooter may not cross the plane of the free throw line until the ball touches the basket ring, backboard, or the free throw ends.
e. No player shall deflect or catch the ball before it reaches the basket or backboard on a free throw attempt.
f. The free throw shooter shall not purposely fake a free throw attempt.
g. An opponent in the game shall not disconcert the free thrower in any way, once the ball has been placed at the disposal of the shooter.
h. No violation can occur if the ball is not released by the free throw shooter


So he doesn't have to step across the line. According to this, he can not lean or reach either. Now I feel better about the call and the game.