The NBA officially denied the Toronto Raptors’ protest of the conclusion of the team’s game against the Sacramento Kings on Nov. 20, the league announced Friday.
After a very long waiting period (two business days to file the appeal, five to gather evidence and make a case, and five for the league to decide, all around lost business days thanks to the Thanksgiving holiday), the outcome that was largely expected came to fruition. While the Raptors had a good case based on logic, the NBA’s lengthy statement explaining the call at the time of the initial review suggested that the NBA wasn’t going to budge much, especially once the call was ruled as correct in the Last Two Minute Report.
Here’s the league’s official statement:
The National Basketball Association announced today that it has denied the Toronto Raptors’ protest of their 102-99 loss to the Sacramento Kings on Nov. 20, 2016.
The Raptors’ protest asserted that the game officials incorrectly called for an instant replay review of whether the Raptors’ Terrence Ross released a three-point shot prior to the expiration of actual time remaining in the game. The Replay Center official reviewed video of the play using a digital timer and determined that the actual time remaining in the game expired before Ross released his shot, and the shot therefore did not count.
The league found that calling for an instant replay review in this case was consistent with the playing rules because the game officials determined that there was a clock malfunction on the play.
I can’t imagine this wording makes anyone feel better, as it’s essentially what Raptors fans have heard all along. The review was justified giving the timing of the shot and the stakes, but far bigger than the review was the issue with the chaos theory at the heart of the ruling – the Raptors played to the clock on the floor, not a theoretical clock in New Jersey, and while it may have been unlikely, there’s no definitive way to tell if Ross could have still gotten his shot off. The officials and replay center followed the letter of the law correctly, but I’d suggest said letter of the law is a little lacking in the common sense application area. In essence, the call was correct but the rule in this case was terribly unfair to Ross and the Raptors.
Terrence Ross said he isn't surprised protest got denied. Still doesn't understand/like the whole situation. Doesn't seem right.
— Ryan Wolstat (@WolstatSun) December 9, 2016
If for whatever reason you need to re-live this whole thing, here you go:
- The play in question occurs.
- The NBA delays the L2M report.
- The NBA releases a statement.
- Raptors officially file protest.
