The NBA slate the week between Christmas and New Year’s can hit a bit of a lull, as there is a collective hangover of the packed marathon of games and the few days between major holidays. But this week has been interesting, as it has been an investigation into just how well you know the rules and regulations of the NBA.
Did you know, for example, that you can’t be called for goaltending on an inbound pass? The Suns knew just that and shocked the Grizzlies with an alley-oop with 0.6 seconds left in a tie game on Tuesday night.
Then there’s James Harden throwing a layup attempt on a foul off the shot clock and in on Thursday night. The Rockets visited the Celtics in the Garden and Harden was at his best, drawing a foul from Kyrie Irving on a drive to the basket on a shot where it appeared Harden lost control of the ball.
The shot sailed high over the backboard and actually went behind it a bit, hitting the shot clock square and dropping in for the basket and a chance for a 3-point play.
Two Celtics players immediately pointed up above the basket, as if to indicate to the officials that it went off the shot clock. Sadly, they were right. We say sadly because this shot should have counted. Harden has an amazing knack for drawing contact on his shots, and this time was no exception. But still, I doubt even he thought that shot was falling on Thursday night.
