Did Non-Goal Tending Call Cost Magic Game 2?
Today, the Orlando Magic finally got their first win as an NBA Finals contender with their 108-104 triumph of the mighty Los Angeles Lakers. It was their first win since they first made the NBA Finals in 1995, a team backstopped by stars such as Shaquille O’ Neal and Penny Hardaway.
Now while everyone is talking about the win, critics are going back to game 2 of the NBA finals. No other than LA Lakers coach Phil Jackson has been saying that the last second attempt by Orlando rookie Courtney Lee should have counted if a goal tending violation had been called on Lakers center Pau Gasol. The Lakers went on to win that one in overtime.
But if you think about it, was the interference a factor or not. If you will check out the video below from ESPN, you will see that Gasol did hit the rim but the force was not enough to alter the shot. The rim and the board barely even moved!
Rule No. 11, section I-A (i) of the NBA rules says a player shall not “vibrate the rim or backboard so as to cause the ball to make an unnatural bounce.”
Given the fact that it was not called, there is a common rule that states that a referees call should not alter the outcome of the game. Normally in last minute plays, you would see referees avoid blowing their whistle since they don’t want to be accountable for deciding the outcome of the game. This is the best explanation for this non-call which is not really debatable.
So why is Coach Phil Jackson claiming there should have been a goal tending call? Wasn’t he happy with the win? Maybe it was the way his team played. With the way his stars performed that night, he wouldn’t have minded losing to a superior team.
If that were the case, the Magic would have been 2-1 instead of the Lakers. But that is how the ball bounces. You can make or break with the calls of the game and in this case, the Lakers got it.
However, tip your hats off to Coach Phil Jackson. Normally a coach would stay silent in these situations. But just as the great coach as he is, he knows the game better than anyone. And this includes admitting that his team deserved the win or not. SALUTE!
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