POOL REPORT ON THE FOUL CALL AND TIMEOUT WITH FIVE SECONDS LEFT IN OVERTIME DURING TONIGHT’S 76ERS VS. KNICKS GAME

INTERVIEW CONDUCTED BY STEVE POPPER (NEWSDAY) WITH CREW CHIEF COURTNEY KIRKLAND, FOLLOWING TONIGHT’S PHILADELPHIA 76ERS AT NEW YORK KNICKS GAME.

March 21, 2021

QUESTION: “WHAT WAS THE FOUL CALLED WITH FIVE SECONDS LEFT IN OVERTIME?  DID THE KNICKS TRY TO CHALLENGE IT AND IF SO, WHY DID THEY NOT GET ONE?”

KIRKLAND: “The foul call was a loose ball foul called against Julius Randle, that was the foul call.  Coach Thibodeau did not signal for a challenge during the same interaction with the officials. In order to initiate a challenge, the coach must signal for a challenge during the same interaction, and he did not do so.”

QUESTION: “WAS IT A TIME LIMIT THING BECAUSE IT LOOKED LIKE HE TRIED TO COME OUT ON THE COURT AND WAS TRYING TO ASK FOR IT AFTER?”

KIRKLAND: “Yes that was way after the fact.  The coach must initiate the challenge immediately during the same interaction with the officials when he calls the timeout.”

QUESTION: IT HAS TO BE THE HEAD COACH?

KIRKLAND: “Correct, it has to be the head coach.”