POOL REPORT ON TWO CALLS IN THE FINAL MINUTE OF TONIGHT’S HEAT/BUCKS GAME

INTERVIEW CONDUCTED BY ERIC NEHM (THE ATHLETIC) WITH CREW CHIEF MARC DAVIS FOLLOWING TONIGHT’S MIAMI HEAT VS. MILWAUKEE BUCKS GAME.

September 2, 2020

QUESTION: What warranted a foul on Khris Middleton’s 3-point attempt with 4.3 seconds left?

DAVIS: On Dragic’s play, he doesn’t allow him the space. After he begins his upwards shooting motion he doesn’t allow Middleton the space to land and the contact by Dragic’s torso to Middleton’s knees is illegal, upsetting his balance, thus being deemed an illegal act and shooting foul.

QUESTION: On that, Dragic argued hands were straight up but that doesn’t have any impact?

DAVIS: Correct, because his torso contacts Middleton’s knees upsetting his balance and he’s a shooter until he comes all the way back down to the floor.

QUESTION: What warranted a foul on Jimmy Butler’s buzzer-beating attempt?

DAVIS: Similarly, Butler begins his upwards shooting motion and releases the shot prior to the expiration of the period. This makes this a legal field goal attempt. He must be allowed the space to land and Giannis contacts him with his left hand on his torso and I felt like it affected his balance and did not allow him the space to land in a normal basketball position. As a result I judged this to be a shooting foul.

QUESTION:  Can you take me through the timing on the last play?

DAVIS: The shot was released prior to expiration of the period. I believe it was .1 seconds making it a legal field goal attempt and the field goal remains in play until he lands back down. The contact occurred with zeros on the clock and as per rule the free throws are awarded with no lineup of players and zeros on the game clock. So, the shot was released prior to the expiration of the period making it a legal field goal attempt. The play is not over until he comes back to the ground. The contact occurred after the expiration of the period and as per rule he was allowed free throw shots consistent with the shooting foul with no time on the clock and no lineup of players.