The Heat–Hornets overtime thriller on Tuesday was marred by what Miami coach Erik Spoelstra called a “stupid play.”
Charlotte pulled out a 127-126 play-in tournament victory with LaMelo Ball scoring the game-winning layup. Ball was also involved in a controversial play in the first half. Simone Fontecchio blocked his shot and Ball tumbled to the ground. The ball landed in Bam Adebayo‘s hands and Ball, as ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk describes, grabbed at the Heat center’s legs.
Adebayo fell hard to the floor and eventually limped back to the locker room. He was ruled out during the second half due to a lower back injury.
Spoelstra felt Ball should have been ejected. Instead, the Hornets guard finished with 30 points and 10 assists.
“I don’t think it’s cute. I don’t think it’s funny. I think it’s a stupid play,” Spoelstra said, per Michael Scotto of Hoops Hype (Twitter link). “It’s a dangerous play. Obviously, our best player was out. I’m not making an excuse. The Hornets played great and made those plays down the stretch. We had our opportunities to win. That’s a shame. He should be penalized for that. I don’t think that belongs in the game, tripping guys, shenanigans. Somebody has got to see that. He should have been thrown out of the game for that. There’s no place in the game for that.”
Official Zach Zarba explained to a pool reporter why the play wasn’t reviewed
“The play wasn’t whistled in real time. Play continued with a fast break,” he said. “And because play wasn’t stopped immediately, and there was no whistle on the play, the window to review the play was closed. Play was stopped, after a change of possession, and then a time out. So, by rule, our window to review that play then is closed.”
According to Zarba, Ball could be disciplined by league operations when they review the play.
Ball was apologetic after the game, Youngmisuk tweets. He said he got hit in the head on the play and didn’t know where he was. He added that he would speak to Adebayo about it.
Not cool Melo
Beyond just watching the footage, the fact that the play wasn’t stopped after a player hits the deck like that is pretty crazy. The other part of the explanation, “the window to review the play was closed”, like its pretty routine that deep two point makes get changed to threes and vice-versa. Obviously that is a different scenario but bear with me. Like you can’t go back and look at something, fast break or not? Or if we’re being honest, the actual problem, none of the officials were watching the play as it unfolded and thought it deserved a whistle?
And listen Its a very odd thing to happen, but you do in fact have the means to make the right call from what I can tell. Its just a shame that a moment like that makes such a difference in a loser goes home game.
It is absolutely a flagrant. And to have three refs miss it. Is inexcusable. It was a takedown. LaMello was not protecting himself. Really should have been thrown out.
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It’s called basketball karma. You valued getting an empty statistical record/accomplishment over playing the game the right way and the “basketball gods” came back around and stacked the odds against you Spo. Just like you apologized to absolutely no one for that farce, I’m sure the hornets are apologizing to absolutely no one for advancing
HORNETS haven’t advanced (yet).
Playing the game the right way ….. HEAT have always played hard on both sides of the court, the 29 other teams says as much.
They’ve never tanked a season for picks, they’re always competing whether they have stars or undrafted players.
Yet, you say the basketball god’s are angered for them getting that once in a lifetime scenario of breaking a record and actually going for it?
Take a deep breath, son. Chill.
Blazers just got a whole new fan base in Chicago lols.
Deni slays the Suns —- 41 pts, 12 ast.
16 pick is coming —- Hannes Steinbach ✊
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