That shot was not going in. If you watch the replay from the wide angle, you can see the ball start to bounce in the direction O'Neal tips it before he makes contact with ball. It was a missed shot, but JO must just be too old for overtime. That said, it is the correct call.
If he didn't touch it, I can say for sure the ball would have bounced up a 2nd time based off the trajectory the ball was coming down. I can't say it would have gone in when it comes down but it had a good chance.
It sure looked like Beverley made that initial contact of the net. Shouldve been an offensive interferring. I won't complaint.
You're allowed to touch the net... there is nothing in the rules about touching the net. As long as you don't touch the ball or the rim, it's not interference. That one is entirely on O'Neal.
Yes and no...the rules of basket interference: A player cannot touch the ball, ring, or net while the ball is on the ring or within the basket. It is legal to touch the ring or the net if the ball is above the ring and not touching the ring, even if the ball is in the imaginary cylinder above the ring. Beverley came close but I looked at it again and it was above the rim when Bev touched it. Ref made the right call...
