Atlanta Hawks: NBA admits blown call in Game 6 (plus notes)
The NBA said Marquis Daniels should have been called sooner for fouling Al Horford on an inbound play with 3.1 seconds left in Game 6. If game officials had made the correct call the Hawks, who trailed 81-79 at the time, would have been awarded a free throw and possession of the ball.
The league posted a link with an explanation on one of its official Twitter accounts:
During the last two minutes of the fourth period or overtime, if a personal foul is assessed against the defensive team prior to the ball being released on a throw-in, it is considered an Away-From-The-Play Foul and the offensive team is awarded one free throw and possession of the ball. With 3.1 seconds remaining in the the Boston-Atlanta game last night, a foul was called on the Celtics’ Marquis Daniels after the Hawks’ Marvin Williams had released the ball and therefore the foul was correctly treated as a common foul and not an Away-From-the-Play foul. With that said, however, the replay shows that the foul on Daniels should have been called sooner than it was by the officials, in which case it would have met the requirements of an Away-From-The-Play Foul.
I watched the video numerous times and it’s very close as to whether Daniels was called for a foul before Marvin released the ball. In any event, league spokesman Tim Frank said the rules do not give game officials the option to look at a video replay to determine when the ball is thrown in or when a foul is committed.
Of course there is no recourse for the Hawks, who protested the call during the game. Coach Larry Drew said game officials told him Daniels fouled Horford after Williams released the ball.
“That would have been a huge play, a huge turn of events,” Josh Smith said.
Horford said game officials didn’t offer the players much of an explanation.
“We knew we were on the road and we weren’t going to get anything [and] we were going to have to earn everything we got so it was no surprise they didn’t call the foul earlier,” he said. “He was grabbing me the whole time.”
Notes from exit interview day
- Drew said neither he nor his agent have talked to Hawks management about his contract option for next season. He said he planned to “get away for a few days” before taking up the issue next week.
- Not sure how much there is to the Chris Broussard report linking Rick Sund to the Portland GM opening. Hawks owners have expressed an interest in re-signing Sund but haven’t made a formal offer. Sund has told people he may be interested in a part-time consulting role with the Hawks or another team and also is considering retirement.
- Josh didn’t have much to say about his future, except to repeat “I’m under contract for one more year with the Hawks” and remind media that he could be fined for talking about the reports of his trade request. His trade request still stands for all the reasons I reported before the trade deadline. I’m told another factor that can be added to the list is his desire to play in what he believes to be a better basketball market. But I’m sure you might have inferred that from the way Josh (without prompting) contrasted Boston’s fans with Atlanta’s throughout the series.
- Al said he would resume rehabilitation for his pectoral. “I’m very limited,” he said. “I made a lot of progress in two weeks but I’m about 50 or 60 percent strength.” He reiterated that he didn’t feel comfortable returning before Game 4: “I knew I had a ways to go. Even when I came back, I felt limited. I gave it all I had for the team and for the city. Our city had big expectations for us. It was unfortunate we had a number of injuries and couldn’t do what we wanted.”
- Drew wouldn’t say exactly went wrong on Atlanta’s penultimate possession, which ended with Josh missing a 22-footer, except to say the ball was supposed to go to Joe Johnson. I watched the replay a few times and best I can tell is that Josh was supposed to set a pick to free Joe to cut to the basket or, if Paul Pierce and Brandon Bass switched, end up in the high post against Pierce. However, it looked as if Josh released his screen too soon and stepped out to the perimeter.
- Al on the play: “We drew up a play. I thought it was a pretty good play. I got it and swung it to Josh. Joe, they did a good job denying him, so Josh forced up a tough shot. It didn’t go down.”
- Mike Prada at SB Nation has a different interpretation of the play. He thinks the first option was for Al to feed Josh the ball on the left block. That doesn’t jibe with Drew’s explanation but both could be true considering Drew’s plays have multiple options. Prada also thinks the Celtics got away with a lot of clutching and grabbing on the play. (H/T Jason Walker of Peachtree Hoops).
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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653 comments Add your comment
Keeping it Real
May 11th, 2012
10:37 pm
ASG is the worst management group in sports and screwed Josh on his last contract. Who can blame him for wanting out. We also pay our coach less than other team’s mascots and generally (with some exceptions like JJ.) you get what you pay for.
Boston has always gotten all the calls. Why should this have been any different. Just hope they get their butts kicked sooner than later.
Rufus1
May 11th, 2012
10:39 pm
If you think this team can’t win without josh you are crazy……
We will win just like we won without AL…It will just be different.
BIG DOG
May 11th, 2012
10:39 pm
MC – I didn’t no that how Josh felt about ATL his home town, did he really say that about Boston fans show up in all green but every city is the same ” YOU FEEL ME ” wow he just threw us a left hook,
Get your A$$ out of town bro.
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
AG
May 11th, 2012
10:39 pm
Marvin showed up – but to late. FIRED…I really like him as a person (from what I read about him), but he has to go. We need that 6 million. KH, don’t let the door hit you were the good Lord split you… PEACE AND CHICKEN GREASE. I liked what I saw out of Damp, WIllie, Ivan and Pargo.
TMAC has never been out of the first round. Goodbye. Collins, and Stack – retire.
O'brien
May 11th, 2012
10:40 pm
AJ,
One thing we agree on is how to handle Josh.
I would offer Josh an extension this offseason (maybe 5 years, $80 mil). If he doesn’t accept, then I would trade him before the season starts, instead of letting him hit FA and hope he resigns, or hope we find a SNT we like.
Jody
May 11th, 2012
10:41 pm
pointguardslim,
That ain’t me. I don’t post on realgm.
prison mike
May 11th, 2012
10:43 pm
The franchise doesn’t get any respect. These owners are holding the city hostage.
BIG DOG
May 11th, 2012
10:45 pm
Josh need to be traded, if a player have and certain remarks, there objection no need to linger get something in return before to late, testimony of words are facts.
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
Jody
May 11th, 2012
10:46 pm
AG,
Can’t compare Nique to Josh. Josh is nowhere near the level Nique played on. That being said, if you understand how idiotic the Nique trade was, then you should defenitely understand how foolish it would be to try to keep a guy who CLEARLY is intent on leaving.
Slimjr
May 11th, 2012
10:48 pm
Josh should not worry about the Hawk Fans.. He should concentrate on improving his game to Championship caliber level cause from the looks of it, he still has a long way to go……..
IMHO….
Trade him if he wont take the offer!
Slimjr
May 11th, 2012
10:49 pm
JOSH for LaMarcus Aldridge!
Snoop Graham
May 11th, 2012
10:50 pm
So Josh Smith wants to be traded? One major problem, who the heck would want him? The Hawks would be lucky to get a bag of balls for him. Play out your contract idiot and see who lines up to sign you. Good luck in Toronto or Charlotte.
Section 303
May 11th, 2012
10:51 pm
pointguardslim, I think that guy gets the Josh to the Pistons stuff from a Detroit sports radio host named Mike Valenti. Valenti started saying that the Pistons should trade their 9th pick for Smith, at the beginning of the Celtics series.
The 9th pick does not excite me much, but the 9th pick + Jason Maxiel (a guy I have always liked) would be pretty nice.
AG
May 11th, 2012
10:52 pm
Big Dog, I think the comments “I don’t care about the fans” comment after getting embarrassed is worse than what Josh said. Josh spoke the truth.
Jody – that was the worse trade any Atlanta franchise ever made. Josh is no Nique, but a poor man’s version of a Shawn Kemp….He is a player that you continue to coach up. Josh did not post up once last night. Posting up is his bread and butter. Even on the play when he missed the jumper, he should have posted and allowed Joe to get the ball from Al.
Slimjr
May 11th, 2012
10:54 pm
Clippers and LAC tied at 60 with 3:06 in the 3rd! Great game!
AG
May 11th, 2012
10:54 pm
Funny, if you look at the top 100 NBA players as of today, guess who is the highest Hawk? Four starters made the top 100, and 3 were in the top 40. Do we really want to KA BOOM this team? When Kobe demanded a traded, ownership got him players to complement him. I think that is all Josh wants.
BIG DOG
May 11th, 2012
10:55 pm
Melo kept nugets going back and forth.
Dwight kept Magic going back and forth.
Josh this year will continue to do the same ? HA
not this city bro ATL will ship you quick.
Justice, Primetime, Nique, Vick, ?
GRASS IS NOT ALWAYS GREEN ON OTHER SIDE BRO.
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
atlthrasha404
May 11th, 2012
10:56 pm
Well thanks alot NBA but you tell me how this helps us now. Your refs messed up our season and you wont do nothin about it. ASG bettwr be on the ball this offseason because us the fans are sick of being screwed. Get some damn superstars in here, or for goodness sake help them out by bringing in championship talent.
Rufus1
May 11th, 2012
10:56 pm
I trade Josh…
Houston has 2 1st rd picks… 14 & 16… I would take Patrick patterson, Courtney Lee, 14 and 16 for Josh and our pick at 23
Jody
May 11th, 2012
11:02 pm
AG,
I agree the Nique trade was a total disaster.
I’m not going to invest $80 million or more in a poor man’s Shawn Kemp. A poor man’s Shawn Kemp is not going to lead to title contention. Also, who was Josh going to post? One of the reasons he was shooting jumpers is because he struggled to score in the post against KG and the other Celtic big men. In fact, he always struggles against bigger guy in the post, hence the multiple jumpers. The young man is talented, but he clearly has holes in his game. Let’s be honest about that.
Rufus1
May 11th, 2012
11:02 pm
Portland has 2 1st rd picks…
JJ Hickson and the 11th for Josh
BIG DOG
May 11th, 2012
11:05 pm
Share your trade
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=7jlvshb
Jody
May 11th, 2012
11:06 pm
AG,
You call the guy a “poor man’s Shawn Kemp” and then try to compare him to Kobe Bryant? C’mon man. Kobe is a guy who won multiple titles and will go down as the second best shooting guard to ever play the game. Josh Smith is not that level or caliber of player.
AG
May 11th, 2012
11:08 pm
Please don’t mention JJ Hickson. We could have picked him up for free. Instead we signed Damp for the rest of the year. Boston actually cut J. O’Neal to make room for Hollins – who is an athletic big.
Also, I thought Joe is our $120 million dollar man! He should be the one carting the team. Yet, so much blame on Josh. You must admit, Josh has improved every season in the league. Look at the post ups in game 5 against KG and Bass. They were not pretty, but he did some damage in the paint.
BIG DOG
May 11th, 2012
11:09 pm
Share your trade
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=7ozh8n5
AG
May 11th, 2012
11:12 pm
I basically said Josh did the same thing Kobe did. You act as though Josh was the first player to ask for a trade. Josh is in his contract season, so I expect big things from him. I guess why I am baffled, it is because their is a lot of blame to pass around – and Josh is getting most of it in the blogs. Again,if you went to the game 5, there was a lot of green. I am sure Josh could not find red no further than him looking past the Hawks bench.
Bravesfan79
May 11th, 2012
11:13 pm
Josh is like tin man, except for no heart he has no brain.
BIG DOG
May 11th, 2012
11:14 pm
Share your trade
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=7lmsccw
dkatl
May 11th, 2012
11:15 pm
hey, lets not forget the progess the hawks have made. The hawks won a playoff game at chicago and were leading the series last season. But of course the hawks were brutally murdered by the refs from that point.They beat orlando ,who was a very good team with a dominant center and good three point shooters,in the playoffs last year.Atlanta does not have the legacy of the bulls celtics lakers or the superstar players.This year another team with a rich legacy got 90% of the calls.
mykhalc
May 11th, 2012
11:16 pm
i wish there was some brains and heart SOMEWHERE in this franchise…stupidity and incompetence are king!!!
AG
May 11th, 2012
11:20 pm
Brains start with getting rid of liabilities, – making other teams think they are assets (i.e the KH deal). The Bibby trade really came home to roost this season. We had our starting PG all along, but we mortgage our future for a 2nd string PG.
Rid ourselves of KH and Marvin. That gives us $15 million
mark33
May 11th, 2012
11:20 pm
Josh has a lot of talent….
but he is a coach killer because he does what he wants to instead of what a coach wants him to do. And i’m sure he can’t understand this at all because that’s what selfish players do.
Sorry Josh, but you aint gonna change.
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
May 11th, 2012
11:22 pm
Josh Smith held this team together while Horford was out now yall want to trade him.
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
May 11th, 2012
11:23 pm
Josh and Teague were the MVP’s of this years team.
Slimjr
May 11th, 2012
11:23 pm
Man that Rudy Gay is a baller!
This guy is 6′9″ and lighting quick..He jab stepped a defender took two dribbles to his right than pulled up for a 16 foot jump shot…Josh could only dream about that move…
mykhalc
May 11th, 2012
11:25 pm
nah…KH and MW are included but this team does not work as a unit…that’s just not gonna change as long as this same personnel stays together. it’s waaaayyyy passed time to blow this thing up. there is nothin’ enjoyable about watchin’ a franchise continue to run in place for the last 3 yrs…PATHETIC!!!
Slimjr
May 11th, 2012
11:29 pm
BIG DOG, I like that trade:
Salmons and Cousins for Josh and a pick!
But LD has got to be gone…
BIG DOG
May 11th, 2012
11:30 pm
Man i really like Cousins in a Hawks uniform to play beside Horford.
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
BIG DOG
May 11th, 2012
11:32 pm
Slimjr – Thanks bro.
TWO BIG DOGS IN THE HOUSE
Slimjr
May 11th, 2012
11:33 pm
You watching this LAC game?
Conley just hit a huge 3! His jumper has improved immensely! This dude has a smooth game!
BIG DOG
May 11th, 2012
11:34 pm
Teague, Joe, ? , Horford, Cousins
Pargo, Salom, Marvin, Ivan, Zaza
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
Not So Casual Observer
May 11th, 2012
11:37 pm
The Hawks were hosed by the officials in games 5 and 6. Game 5 was the classic NBA “cover up by the officials. Double digit fouls on the Hawks in the 1st half of game 5 and only 3 on the Celtics, with more on the Celtics in the 3rd quarter, then with the game on the line the fouls went against the Hawks in the 4th. Bad news for the NBA was the unexpected hot streak of shooting that carried the Hawks to a win.
The entire 6th game was a tank job by Stafford, Lewis and the other guy. Phantom “T’s” on Smith and Teague (I hope the T on Teague was removed after the NBA reviewed the DVD), and an absolute refusal to make calls against the Celtics – the call at the end of the game was a mistake and the save by the official was not calling a “dead ball” foul.
I am absolutely amazed the zebras made the call for Horford to go to the line at 3.1! Had Horford made the 2 FT I am sure there would have been a saving foul against the Hawks for the Celts to go to the line – and still Doc Rivers complains on virtually every call. Even a double digit advantage at the FT line does not shut Doc’s mouth.
Atlanta Hawks: NBA admits blown call in Game 6 (plus notes) – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) | Free NBA Videos
May 11th, 2012
11:38 pm
[...] Atlanta Hawks: NBA admits blown call in Game 6 (plus notes)Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog)The NBA said Marquis Daniels should have been called sooner for fouling Al Horford on an inbound play with 3.1 seconds left in Game 6. If game officials had made the correct call the Hawks, who trailed 81-79 at the time, would have been awarded a free …NBA: Foul cost Hawks a free throwESPNall 1,697 news articles » [...]
Bluestreak
May 11th, 2012
11:38 pm
Let little Joshie go play in a city that he thinks is a ‘better’ basketball city. I would assume he is talking about Boston, Chicago, LA, NY…any others? Ok, so let Josh miss the shot at the end of the SEASON when he wants to be the man on the team. Just how BIG a hole do you think the fans in those cities would tear into him? I’m thinking something akin to the Grand Canyon. And do you think the ultra-sensitive Josh Shmoove Smith could actually handle that kind of ‘abuse’? He’d be whining again saying that he gets blamed for EVERYTHING.
Go Joshie, we need real men who can take the heat. See your other buddy down low, Al Horford. He lets his play do his talking and doesn’t get STUPID T’s that cost his team points!
By Josh. Too bad. You could have manned up and been a hero in your home town. You’re leaving a spoiled, whining manchild who doesn’t know how good you got it. Just wait till you get what you think you want. You’ll be a hero one day, but torn to pieces the next. And pining for the days you were in Atlanta.
Not So Casual Observer
May 11th, 2012
11:39 pm
As someone who tried said, “josh Smith is uncoachable”.
Enough said!
Jody
May 11th, 2012
11:40 pm
AG,
Of course Josh isn’t the first player to ask for a trade. However, the is a monumental difference between Josh Smith and Kobe Bryant and the Hawks and the Lakers.
Secondly, it’s been reliably reported that Josh has wanted out for over a year now. We’re kidding ourselves if we think he won’t leave the Hawks high and dry. He will have many suitors, one of which will be the Boston Celtics as they will have cap room.
Mama Says
May 11th, 2012
11:42 pm
Two things.
It may be sports but this sport is the only one that has such a difference in fouls home vs away.
There cannot be any explanation for this except refs are instructed to aid the home team by the NBA.
I know a lot of you will jump all over this but think about it. The NBA wants revenue. You may have a heavy revenue base in one city and for that team it is a very good thing but for the entire league it is not. The league would rather have every team draw good home crowds rather than one or two. Therefore calling a game to the home teams benefit is really a way to increase revenue league wide. Would you go see the Hawks if they were 2 and 28 at home ?
There is no other explanation for the blindness that overtakes the refs when the visiting team has the ball.
Second point, Josh Smith stepping to the perimeter is nothing new. It should be considered emblematic that the season ended with him taking an ill advised 22 foot jump shot. The only more fitting thing would have been one of his ill advised 30 footers.
BIG DOG
May 11th, 2012
11:43 pm
Nobody want any part of the Grizzles in the playoffs, there the only team in the west that can beat Thunders.
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
Bonbs Awah
May 11th, 2012
11:44 pm
It wouldn’t have mattered whether they had all the breaks the refs could have given them. They are a group of losers, always have been, and always will be. Real choke artists….
Eb
May 11th, 2012
11:44 pm
Hey Josh, don’t let the door hit you on the way put. You accomplished all of nothing during your storied Atlanta career. Best of luck in an “NBA” town where media will destroy you for the stupidity you display night after night. After 3 months you’ll be crying like a baby wanting to return to a city where nobody cares about some nimrod like you. In the meantime, try finding some ballhandling skills and a jumpshot.