The Atlanta Hawks pulled out an OT victory over the Toronto Raptors earlier this week. Mike Bibby hit a 3 to tie it with 0.5 seconds. Then, the Raptors appeared to win it at the end of regulation on an alley-oop to PG TJ Ford. Ford layed it in as the buzzer sounded ... or, as it turned out, right after the buzzer sounded. So, the game went to OT and the Hawks prevailed.
What's the problem? Why should Toronto be awarded the victory? The clock, which was supposed to start when TJ Ford touched the ball, started a couple tenths of a second early. What's the big deal? What's a couple of tenths of a second? Well, Ford released the ball right after (probably less than 0.1 s) the clock hit 0.0. So, had the clock started at the right time, Ford would have got the shot off. Am I 100% sure? No. But, I'm almost certain.
Did I mention that the game was in Atlanta? The Hawks were already forced to replay the end of a game they had won at home this year. Their victory over the Heat was wiped off the board and they were forced to replay the final portion of the game when it was determined that Shaquille O'neal hadn't fouled out.
I'm not calling for the personnel in Atlanta to lose their jobs. And, I don't think the final 0.5 seconds should be replayed. Rather, TJ Ford's bucket should count and OT should be wiped off the board. The clock expired on the Ford shot. The Ford shot was good. The Ford shot put the Raptors up 2 at the end of regulation. The Raptors won the game. It's that simple if you rule that Ford took less than 0.5 s to get the shot off, which I'm almost certain he did.
The officials should have counted the basket. But, if they aren't sure, it's better to let the game go to OT then to make the wrong decision. However, the league needs to step in and make it right. It shouldn't be a replay situation. Why make the Raptors score in 0.5 s again? This isn't a reverse U.S. v. USSR Olympics situation. You can't keep playing the situation until Toronto doesn't score. The win should just be awarded to Toronto, and David Stern should step up and give them what they deserve.
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2 comments:
"Am I 100% sure? No. But, I'm almost certain."
Does that really sound like the basis for changing the standing outcome of a game? Almost certain?
Bad officiating (and scorekeeping) is inevitable. Haven't the Raps won a game at some point because of a call that was just as bad (although perhaps a little more subjective)? The Lig could stick its finger in this hole, but the dyke is still going to crumble.
P.S. I was writing a patent application for some guys who do flow modeling and thought of you. Hope you are healthy and happy.
I have no idea how the Raptors have won their games. So, I can't speak to that.
I just saw a couple replays. Someone with access to the footage and appropriate technology should be able to definitively say whether or not Ford got the shot off in less than 0.5 seconds.
The NCAA should have given the Oklahoma v. Oregon game to OU retroactively. Situations are few and far between ... but why not fix the ones you can?
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