The NBA admits its officials committed an error during the Miami Heat game at the Quicken Loans Arena on Tuesday
With the Cleveland Cavaliers’ on-court dismantling of the Miami Heat in Cleveland on Tuesday, there are some other glitches that have the National Basketball Association (NBA) fans still chirping. Lebron James’ consecutive seven points in the third were
capped by a three point heave from beyond half-court. After the officials scrutinized the replays, the shot was counted.
But, after the game the NBA ruled that the decision by the referees at the Quicken Loans Arena that Tuesday night was flawed, and the cross-court 3-point shot from James should not have counted.
On-court officials initially ruled out the attempt from James as it did not beat the horn, but later consulted a replay of the said turn-of-events and allowed the shot to count. They explained the clock had started early on the play, and after careful deliberation
between the officials they decided to allow the shot.
The NBA Vice President Stu Jackson was not impressed and announced that the officiating crew had made an error.
"Unfortunately, in this case, the referees misapplied the rule as it relates to an early clock start," Stu Jackson said. "What they needed to do in this case was go to replay and determine how much time LeBron actually had the ball in his hands. Then, at
that point, subtract that time from the time on the clock, which was 1.9 (seconds), and then whatever that time remaining is -- in this case, it looked to be either nine tenths or a second -- they then needed to have Miami inbound the ball on the sideline
at the nearest point of the interruption."
If the Cavaliers had lost that game, they would have been allowed to register a protest against this decision. In that case, the whole fourth quarter would have been re-played by both teams. But since Miami lost, everything was good and Lebron James received
three extra points to add to his already bulging total of 17,126.
According to Jackson, in such an instance the officiating crew can only correct the time, and not tinker with the point total.
The timing system of the NBA only allows the official referees or the official timer to start the clock, and Jackson was at a loss to ascertain who had set the clock prematurely.
The Vice President was hopeful that such an error would not be replicated in the future and ensured that preventive measures would be taken. He explained that when there is such a lapse from one of the officials, the rest realize it, and learn from the mistake.
In addition, the information would be re-communicated to the entire officiating staff to prevent any further mishap.
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