Toronto Raptors fans are often more paranoid than most about the NBA being out to get the team with shoddy calls, but on Sunday night, the league proved the mindset true.
Down three points against the Sacramento Kings with just under three seconds remaining, Toronto inbounded the ball to Terrence Ross, who dribbled and threw up a three-point prayer as time expired that went in to tie the game at 102. The incredible shot, made before the in-arena game clock reached zero, seemingly sent the game to overtime.
Except it didn’t.
Despite the game clock showing Ross’ shot was released before it expired, the replay center ruled that a missed tip of Demarcus Cousins on the inbound should have made the shot clock start earlier. The basket was waved off.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVkL0nCErKs
That’s some good ol’ fashioned bullshit.
https://twitter.com/SacramentoKings/status/800559276137684992
The Raptors weren’t happy with the call after the game.
“I’ma save my money and say no comment”
https://twitter.com/teamziller/status/800709516945829888
.@T_DotFlight31 on how he saw the final play unfold.
🗯 https://t.co/VS77BAfdYa https://t.co/4lxsUqC4TR
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) November 21, 2016
The NBA said the tipped-ball should have started the clock earlier, hence the reversal.
(2/2) Ruling: Clock started late and should have run to 0.0 before Ross' shot released.
— NBA Official (@NBAOfficial) November 21, 2016
NBA referee Mike Callahan pool reporter transcript below: pic.twitter.com/3Rx8ad4Lra
— NBA Official (@NBAOfficial) November 21, 2016
It’s hard for the NBA to justify the call. There’s no denying the ball was tipped off Cousins on the inbounds, but with the clock not going off, how was Ross supposed to know how much time was actually left? When he took the shot and the ball was released, there was still time left on the clock – he made the play based on the time allocated in front of him. With less than three seconds to make the play, Ross isn’t going to think “oh yeah, that touched his hand, might as well deduct a couple seconds.” Instead, he correctly assumed he had the time shown on the shot clock. If it’s a clock malfunction, the Raptors didn’t deserve to pay the price.
Stupidest call I've ever seen !! How would Ross know the clock hadn't started ?!! So each team should hold the clock all the time to win !!
— Kenny Smith (@TheJetOnTNT) November 21, 2016
You know what? The reversed call might be justifiable if the replay center handled it more fairly. If the play was disputed, why not just replay the final 2.4 seconds? Instead, league officials made the decision to end on what should have happened and not what actually happened. The Raptors should have been allowed to play overtime, win-or-lose, after the basket. Instead, the league decided to call the game.
Perhaps, the most messed up aspect of the call is the precedent it sets. Now, if a shot-clock malfunction causes a player to go off a clock which apparently isn’t accurate, there’s no forgiveness. What if this game was a Game 7 in the playoffs? Imagine a team getting eliminated because they followed the in-arena clock (like they were supposed to) and not having any chance of rectifying the mistake that’s not their own. Players play to the shot-clock, especially during the dying seconds of the game. Tip or not, Ross made an amazing play. The fact it doesn’t count is an incredible misstep by the NBA.
It’s hard to blame the Kings for their role in the kerfuffle. The ball was tipped and they had every right to complain about it taking seconds off the clock. That doesn’t make the call right, however. Ross made the right play and was hosed because of it. You can’t take off imaginary time off the clock without letting players know. The NBA needs to admit they’re wrong because there’s no justification in taking away the basket that makes any sense.
