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
j
May 12th, 2012
3:45 pm
Josh doesn’t want to be here for a few reasons:
1. He thinks it’s ownerships fault he didn’t get to be an all-star this year (actually, it’s his bone-headed shots)
2. He can’t stand the fans or the crowd we get for the opposing team (makes sense, fan support for the Hawks sucks)
3. everybody boos him when he takes long jumpers
i like josh for his defense but i think he’s the reason this team is bi-polar. i honestly feel like he’s holding us back.
AG
May 12th, 2012
3:50 pm
Marcus, I said the same thing last night! Josh had an easy dunk because he backdoored KG. NOBODY was in the lane! THat play hurt for two reasons, we lost out on an easy dunk and we did not get two free throws. Also, the last play on Al – JT got a tech for a fould – then the MD foul on AH he grabbed his sholders and jersey. He NEVER went for the ball!
Ho Hum, Is anyone really surprised?
May 12th, 2012
4:04 pm
Excuses, excuses. One step forward, two steps back. That’s the Hawks. ALWAYS gone in the first or second round. They have been on the same plateau for years.
Needs: 1) A big game/name coach. 2) A front office that can maneauver the roster without lottery picks to progress in the playoffs, not regress. 3) Don’t have one or two players that eat up salary cap. Build a team with depth and some veterans still in prime that have and know what it takes to win championships. (see item 2).
Nebs
May 12th, 2012
4:11 pm
You dont draw up plays in the huddle.You practice plays for the situation.This team clearly needs a new coach.Larry Brown.Forget it go after Phil Jackson.This team has talent that is yet to be groomed by a top NBA coach.
Curious
May 12th, 2012
4:15 pm
Josh Smith is the best player on the team. You guys are going to be cryin in 2 years when Smith leaves because of all of your whinning.
true
May 12th, 2012
4:17 pm
Hawks and the entire NBA should try to make the league more appealing to white people. There is nothing from coaches and roster to music and game day experience that is worth most peoples dollars. The hard core white fans are at the arena, but there is no additional growth outside of them. Not watching on TV. Not talking at the water cooler the next day.
Add to that, the style of play today – constant traveling and palming of the ball that NEVER gets called anymore. Rules are thrown out the window in many ways. Either teams don’t play any defense or players that grow up doing nothing else in life except play basketball can’t shoot the ball and score anymore.
beone
May 12th, 2012
4:24 pm
Josh is an idiot.
Sautee
May 12th, 2012
4:28 pm
“You dont draw up plays in the huddle.You practice plays for the situation”
Yes, but by games end, when you’ve seen the adjustments the defense is making to the plays you went over in practice, you draw up a play to counter what the defense has been doing to stop you.
Are you telling me that Popovich never draws up plays at the end of a game? Or Doc?
Gimme a freakin’ break. Just say you don’t like LD and get it out of your system. But don’t try to justify it by saying he was awful for doing the same thing every coach in the league does.
Phuch Le` Duch
May 12th, 2012
4:40 pm
pronounced (foosh le duke)
true
is untrue because my momma was korean and my daddy was a coonass. that be cajun for you people around here but he was a man of color somewhat native ameican and well you get the picture. i like basketball as much as white people being raised on the delta we love basketball
pistol there pistol here you see. but what has color have to dow with it. i think a owner of color would be a good thing like dr j. he comes to alot of game. i saw him once with his daughter. it was sweet they were holding hans and all. dr j would be good. or tyler perry a good christian man then let madia deal with referees and kg. really though some white people nneed to get over that stuff. a good owner and a good gm and a good team is what the people want. they dont care about the color except maybe the color of the uniform. another thing atlanta is full of people from all ove r the country so you are trying to make atlanta soun d like all racial are something.I am multiracial but i
don’t worry about that stuff and you should not either. go hawks go dogs go braves go falcons.
Skrewa Guinea
May 12th, 2012
4:57 pm
You tell ‘em Phuch.
Ray
May 12th, 2012
5:26 pm
Funny to see the Josh is an idiot comments yet he showed up every game ready to play or least we not forget he was injured during the playoffs, but he still got out on court with a lot of pride and heart.
He may have lost us that game 6, but he didn’t lose the playoffs that’s for sure. Why is no one calling out the so called leader of the Hawks Joe Johnson I wonder maybe because all they see is POINTS which in any sport matters most, but defense matters more. Rather have a score of 50-51 than a score of 140-129 Why because no one played a lick of defense with a score like that.
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
May 12th, 2012
5:34 pm
he said it near the end of the regular season when Boston came to town. he said it two or three times during the series.
***
i guess i missed this during the series
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
May 12th, 2012
5:43 pm
The players vouched for LD but none of them reapect LD and he likely has alienated several of our better bench players
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
May 12th, 2012
5:45 pm
Northcyde,
Your 2:12am post on MB’s blog was excellent. Great stuff on Smoove’s 263 3s last 2 years and barely any before
BigTimeTECHFan
May 12th, 2012
6:02 pm
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.
Fat lie, the ref waved off the inbounds pass while it was still in air, he blew wistle before ball was released.
The refs gave the Celtics 4 games, something has to be done this
Hawks .....lol
May 12th, 2012
6:24 pm
Defintion of insanity…….doing same thing over and over and expecting different results. Blow em up and start over, this dawg wont hunt anymore.
darrell starks
May 12th, 2012
6:32 pm
I can’t believe you guys are talking about blowing this team up, these guys are still young and talent,
Joe is your oldest guy at 30 years old every body else 28 years and younger, Hawks should have won this series even with and underachieve coach, LD time is up the Billy Knight Family Tree is over.
New Coach is a head.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Laughing out Loud
May 12th, 2012
6:34 pm
This is for the one who named him or herself “Stop Being an Idiot.” It sounds like you should take your own advice and stop being an idiot! For crying out out loud, now.
darrell starks
May 12th, 2012
6:37 pm
iF LD had played the bigger lineup like he did last year in playoffs Hawks would have won this series even with out Horford, Boston is over hype with no bench, Hawks should have won this series in 5 if only if Hawks had a good coach.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
darrell starks
May 12th, 2012
6:40 pm
STARTERS TEAGUE, JOE, JOSH, IVAN, COLLINS
BENCH PARGO, GREEN, TMAC, MARVIN, DAMPIER
RESERVE HINRICH, VLAD STACK
THIS ROTATION WOULD HAVE EASILY WON THE SERIES.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!
darrell starks
May 12th, 2012
6:49 pm
Joe playing SG getting the ball in the post over 6′2 Avery would have been a nightmare for Celtics.
Josh playing SF getting the ball in the post over 6′7 pierce would have been a nightmare for Celtics.
Collins would have kept KG from the paint forcing him long difficult shots, no way KG would have scored 28points and grabs 14 rebounds on Collins, just like Dwight had problem in playoffs last year against Collins the same would have been for KG, but LD is a clueless coach.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
doc
May 12th, 2012
6:49 pm
ob nice dtats re fouls. roblemnis when were they called or not capked and hiw jany non calls against them ir phantom calls on hawks
fratello called it right on during the game on the broadcast
refs discussed it away
just tired oftrying to beat stern
josh your cooments were as poorly timed as so many of your eighteen footers bro. sorr guy you lst me
do you want me to yell you why there arent more fans?
how many clse big games were list this year is a start. it is a byatch to cheer for guys who cant seem to deliver in crunch time.
stern rules
stupid owners still passing the buck of blame
a gm that doesnt know how to negotiate or build a balanced roster times two
a 120 mil guy with a vet minimum game in pkayoffs
an all star forward in his own mind who comtinues to miss in crunch time
the best coach for the money, sadly the money wasnt enough to get a real first ratecoach
anyone else care to add onto the list
darrell starks
May 12th, 2012
6:56 pm
Bring this team back next year with a new coach.
STARTERS TEAGUE, JOE, JOSH, HORFORD, ZAZA
WILL BEAT ANY TEAM IN THE NBA PLAYOFFS
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fats
May 12th, 2012
6:57 pm
Atlanta Hawks have never beat the Celtics in playoff action. They play scared against them. Go figure. It’s all over but the crying. Season down the drain………….Next year we battle again
Sautee
May 12th, 2012
7:05 pm
Yeah, doc, I’ll add an ownership group who is thrilled to death to just make the playoffs. No vision of what ELSE there could be.
Rufus1
May 12th, 2012
7:07 pm
The worst part about the blown call…..
Was that Josh had beaten KG and would have scored if the play continued…
http://www.nba.com/video/channels/originals/2012/05/11/dmo_bosatl_call_v3_051012.nba/
Sautee
May 12th, 2012
7:38 pm
Rufus1,
If the call hadn’t been blown, play would have stopped BEFORE Josh got by KG. The foul on Al occurred well before Josh came free.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 12th, 2012
8:28 pm
The only player on this team who should be traded for the sake of being traded is Joe. His trade value will decline every day for the remainder of his contract. While you can still convince another team that he is good, he should be traded.
Go watch the ball movement in crunch time in the six games the Hawks played without Joe, when iso-Joe wasn’t an option, and it is like night and day compared to the crunch time possessions against Boston. It is not Joe’s fault that this team isn’t willing to bring in a coach who has the juice to take the ball out of his hands and get the team to run plays in crunch time, but unless Phil Jackson or Jerry Sloan is walking into that locker room next year, Joe should be walking out of it.
Once that happens, I don’t mind trading Josh, Teague, or whoever else, but trades involving them should bring back players who actually improve this team. Unlike Joe, they still have several years before they start declining, and none of them (even Josh on his next deal) is going to be crippling the cap with his deal.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 12th, 2012
8:35 pm
“Memphis survives. On to a game 7 in Memphis, so they will have a good chance to win the series after all.”
That series has been great. I thought Memphis might fold after that Game 1 collapse but they really responded well. Still a little concerned about their crunch time execution, though. Their two weak links are inability to shoot 3s and Conley’s ability to run the offense in crunch time.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 12th, 2012
8:37 pm
Joe Johnson got a 5th place MVP vote. I didn’t know Bob Rathbun had a vote.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 12th, 2012
8:40 pm
I see some people bitching about MC publishing Gearon’s comments before Game 6. WTF is he supposed to do, keep them to himself until the series is over? He doesn’t work for the Hawks, thank God. If the Hawks’ owners do or say something stupid, it’s his job to tell us.
People want a beat writer who “likes the Hawks”. Give me a break. I’d rather have one who hates them and goes to any length to tell us when they screw up, so that they keep the pressure on them to get better. That’s how the beat writers in Philly and NY operate.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 12th, 2012
8:42 pm
“Najeh has this team in the finals!
Memphis would sweep the Hawks! They are scary…..”
The two most lopsided losses I can remember this year for the Hawks were the losses to the Spurs and Grizzlies, and the Grizzlies loss came in Philips Arena. That team plays hard, has multiple scorers, plays great D, and dominates the boards. It’s going to take a monster defensive team to defeat them, and the West doesn’t really have any. The Spurs may beat them, but I can’t see them losing to the Lakers, Nuggets, or Thunder.
Looking forward to Game 7. The Clippers are still in this series because of Reggie Evans and Kenyon Martin. Helps to have great defensive veteran big men who will mix it up, when you are playing a team that dominates inside.
EmirS.
May 12th, 2012
8:45 pm
Great Offense > Great Defense
Maybe the Nuggets….but I have a hard time believing the Lakers and Thunder.
doc
May 12th, 2012
8:53 pm
amen to najeh at 8:40. mc is get ths a reporter. he is paid to report news and an owner saying something is news. he isnt here to make up stries whch is what he is mostcriticized fr by not gong with every rumor and waiting fr real news. gearon speaking at a large group is not off the record if he is representing the hawks plain and simple. just like his team he sometimes just doesnt get it.
EmirS.
May 12th, 2012
8:54 pm
Like the Bulls, the Grizz have top tier defense….but without consistent scoring…I don’t see how they can pull of a win against a Lakers team with Sessions, Bynum, Gasol, Artest, and Kobe. Or a Thunder team with Ibaka, Perkins, Harden, Westbrook, and Durant.
drmaryb.(*_*).
May 12th, 2012
9:24 pm
Najeh
I guess you make the better points re: it is MC’s job to report what the owner said, it certainly was newsworthy as it caught the ire of many in the NBA. I see he was fined 35K by the Commish and, Ivan was fined 25k for flipping the bird. Lord knows Ivan needed that money and, he never even saw the court in the post season, any thoughts Najeh, on Ivan should have been used at some point?
Back to Gearon, Jr., this is not the first time he has been fined for inappropriate comments, too bad they don’t spend their money wisely, hugh?
drmaryb.(*_*).
May 12th, 2012
9:26 pm
* any thoughts on IF Ivan should have been used IN THE PLAYOFFS, at some point? (brain freeze)
Oh well
May 12th, 2012
9:38 pm
Moron owners!!!!!! League needs to push for a sale.
Sautee
May 12th, 2012
9:42 pm
Mary Ellen,
Brain freeze is correct. Ivan played in the first 5 games, averaged a little over 10 minutes per game.
http://www.nba.com/playerfile/ivan_johnson/
Don’t you remember, or are you trying to forget this playoff season already?
drmaryb.(*_*).
May 12th, 2012
9:55 pm
Sautee
I am so upset, i guess I forgot. I really thought we would upset the green people. I really want to see a new GM run this team, but with these owners? I don’t know how much autonomy any GM will really have, but, if we can get a creative one that would be key.
My Grandma could take five dollars and feed the whole village. That’s what we need – a cap master. LOL
Thanks for your response there. I just hope the “bird finger” doesn’t keep Ivan from being re-signed, we need goon on our team.
glw
May 12th, 2012
9:56 pm
Damn the 76ers are running the hell out of the Celtics. And they are constantly moving without the ball. If I was LD, I would have Josh, Joe, Teague and Marvin sitting in my living room watching this game to show them how to play the Celtics.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 12th, 2012
10:19 pm
I get the feeling the Sixers are going to get swept. Maybe they take a game in Philly, but I can’t see them going more than five games in this series. They have the same problems as the Hawks with half court offensive execution, except they have worse players and don’t have the defensive versatility to switch screens and cause the Celtics problems on offense like the Hawks did.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 12th, 2012
10:21 pm
“any thoughts on IF Ivan should have been used IN THE PLAYOFFS, at some point?”
Wouldn’t have hurt, but he didn’t play that great this series, and Game 3 is the only game I can think of off the top of my head that he may have swung the outcome if he played more. He struggled against KG’s length.
Rusty
May 12th, 2012
10:33 pm
When Boston takes a jumpshot the 76ers have 4 people under the boards.if LD comes back Ivan & TMac are gone. As long as JJ is here our offense is crap. We need a real coach bad.
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
May 12th, 2012
10:38 pm
I’m so tired of MC taking shots at our team and the players.
It seems like he doesn’t even like our team
Najeh Davenpoop
May 12th, 2012
10:39 pm
I don’t think LD is terrible, but I would like to see what the Hawks would do with a top-tier coach too. I wonder if Gearon gave Jerry Sloan $5 million to come in here and coach this team for one year, if they would get to the conference finals.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 12th, 2012
10:43 pm
Kenny Smith says if the Lakers lose in the first round, they may not only replace Mike Brown (like Magic said) but also look to trade Gasol and/or Bynum. A first round exit for that team might mean a coaching change and a possible trade of the 2nd and 3rd best player of a “core” that won a championship a couple of years ago.
Would the Hawks be willing to trade the 2nd and 3rd best players on the team and replace the coach after their first round exit?
High-sider
May 12th, 2012
10:50 pm
Grandad
May 12th, 2012
3:32 pm
High-Sider;
You got me.
I`m a dumb ass.
-but at least I got spatula right-
————————————————–
Grandad,
I was just kidding with ya. While you were “gettin’” [correcting] Rusty, I thought it would be funny “gettin’” [correcting] you. Kinda like what goes around, comes around. No big deal, just playin’ around. I make mistakes [too].
brigadierjerry
May 12th, 2012
10:57 pm
Najeh, what do you think of Lawson and Conley as players?I like both of their games alot. I will say Lawson is a better pro than I thought he would be. I think he is a better player than Felton and I wouldnt of said that years ago when Felton came out.
Bernie Matt
May 12th, 2012
11:32 pm
The thing that no one wants to admit is that the hawks played most of this series 5 on 4, because Heinrich was on the floor unable to guard and unable to score. But you have to play him in this market (deep south), most of you Josh bashers would rather see Heinrich on the floor than see the hawks win.