The NBA would rather take the easy way out than to admit that last night in game six of the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals that mistakes were made by the referees in the final seconds of the game.
Today the NBA released its findings in the Last Two Minute Report. It reported that no mistakes were made from the three free throws shot by Jimmy Butler, to time being added on the clock, and why no double dribble was called.
Monty McCutchen who is the NBA’s senior vice president of referee development and training said “the league saw that one of Horford’s arms came across Butler’s arms and fouled him with three seconds to go, thus adding nine-tenths of a second to the clock.”
Explanation for as to why o double dribble was called was due to Butler who “fumbles the ball out of his control when he ends his dribble, then recovers it and legally attempts a field goal.”
One question here who McCutchen trying to fool? Was he even watching the same clip? It is blatantly obvious that Butler intends to stop his dribble to take a jumper yet Al Horford was right there making it impossible for him to get a shot up.
If Butler did fumble the basketball it was due to contact from Horford, which means he was fouled before the three was attempted. Meaning the total amount of free throws was two, not three because he got fouled before the basketball got fumbled. This also means more than three seconds were actually on the clock at the time of contact.
Also, in reality there was no fumble by Butler, he clearly uses both hands to dribble and realizes what was about to happen, he was not going to get jumper off, so he subtly puts both hands on the basketball and pushes it forward to create some space.
Which means if it was not a double dribble and since Horford never made contact with the basketball, it was still a shrewd illegal move by Butler. As then, it is a traveling violation instead.
Simply put it would have been easier for the NBA to show some integrity and admit yes calls on the floor were made incorrectly and here is why. Doubling down only shows a lack of integrity from the league and McCutchen which is not a good look for someone with the title of senior vice president of referee development and training.
Now McCutchen also needs to answer why he got duped by a deliberate violation by Butler? There was zero reason for him to fumble the basketball at that point unless he was fouled.
Which is not what McCutchen nor the NBA is saying.