Congrats to the Knicks!!! Incredible championship run. Let’s discuss!!!

It would’ve been a mess, BUT fortunately it’s one that would’ve been cleaned up, as this is a reviewable matter via the Instant Replay trigger found in NBA Rule 13 - Sec I - a(5) (Pic 1)! If Castle had made the shot, the crew would’ve had the ability to independently go to the monitor to review for a possible timing error/clock malfunction (Pic 2: NBA Rule 13 - Sec II - e). While at the monitor, they would determine how much time on the game clock would’ve actually expired after the throw-in pass was legally touched by KAT (Pic 3: NBA Rule 2 - Sec VIII - c), and whether the ball left the shooter’s hand prior to the expiration of ACTUAL time. So the correct decision would be reached no matter what, but it would’ve caused a big fuss in the moment.

This play was correctly officiated. When we referee the defense, we see Shamet jumps vertically (straight up) to contest Castle’s driving shot attempt, keeps his left arm collapsed to his body, and when he swipes down to block the shot, he makes contact that dislodges the ball prior to contact to Castle’s wrist. Excellent patience from the refs to process this play, and determine that Shamet did not make illegal contact.

Great questions. I’d be happy to answer both. 1st Play: There is no such thing as an “over the back foul”. We aren’t going to penalize a player just for being taller or jumping higher than their opponent, if they don’t create illegal contact. So we are looking to see if there is a push, or an impede with an extended arm. Wemby jumps straight up within his vertical plane to compete for the rebound. He does not hinder KAT’s ability to jump with an extended arm over him, nor does he jump into KAT and dislodge him. Actually, if there was a foul on this play, it would be for KAT backing into Wemby as Wemby jumps, and/or him hooking Wemby’s right arm, and hindering him from competing for the rebound. Wemby was the one potentially disadvantaged by KAT’s actions here, but since the rebound went to a Spurs player, it’s deemed incidental contact. 2nd Play: As Wemby is moving up the floor in a straight line path, Shamet slides into Wemby’s path in an attempt to draw a charge, but by the time he obtains a position on the floor in Wemby’s path, he doesn’t afford Wemby an opportunity to avoid contact, which is a prerequisite for obtaining a legal guarding position on a moving opponent without the ball (NBA Rule in Pic below). So by rule, Shamet is responsible for this contact. If Wemby had been disadvantaged by this contact (trip & fall, not been able to get to a potential pass in his direction, etc) then this would’ve actually been called a blocking foul on Shamet.

Huge achievement! Congrats to the refs selected to work the NBA Finals!

Another excellent crew for GM7 of WCF tonight! All 3 on-court officials are Crew Chiefs, with vast playoff experience, including 45 NBA Finals games officiated between the 3 of them. Looking forward to a great, well officiated game tonight!