04/25/24
October 24, 2012
Sixth Man Infraction Spotted, 19 Years Later: In 1993, in the waning seconds of overtime in game 7 of a second-round playoff series between the Houston Rockets and Seattle Supersonics (sigh), Hakeem Olajuwon had five different players he could pass to. Not four. Backup Winston Garland stood up and walked onto the court, ready to bury a three from the corner. "Garland moved so quickly, so decisively that you would assume he belonged in the play," writes Ethan Sherwood Strauss of ESPN.Com.
posted by rcade to basketball at 09:57 AM - 8 comments
That video (linked in the piece) is hilarious. Garland wasn't just stepping out onto the court to cheer. He steps right into the play and was positioned to compete for the rebound if it came his way.
posted by rcade at 10:53 AM on October 24, 2012
I thought this was the most interesting bit:
"There was a little known loophole in the NBA rulebook at that time. A sixth man incurred a technical foul, but the points he produced could not be taken off the board. Had Garland announced his presence by hitting a 3-pointer, the Rockets would have been up by two. The ensuing technical may have returned one point to Seattle -- at most."
posted by yerfatma at 11:21 AM on October 24, 2012
There was a little known loophole in the NBA rulebook at that time. A sixth man incurred a technical foul, but the points he produced could not be taken off the board.
Makes you wonder why more teams didn't try this play. Or did they....?
posted by NerfballPro at 02:23 PM on October 24, 2012
Little-known fact: Robert Horry scored every one of his pivotol last-second threes by leaving the bench during play.
posted by rcade at 09:36 AM on October 25, 2012
Little-known fact: Robert Horry scored every one of his pivotol last-second threes by leaving the bench during play.
Indeed, in this is why in the end Greg Maddox tracked Horry down and, well, you don't see so much of the man any more.
posted by billsaysthis at 11:48 AM on October 25, 2012
So in 2028, they'll finally call that too many men on the ice penalty on the Penguins from the Stanley Cup Final?
posted by stevis at 02:17 PM on October 25, 2012
billsaysthis: Indeed, in this is why in the end Greg Maddox tracked Horry down and, well, you don't see so much of the man any more.I love that we have this completely nonsensical inside joke, because it makes me laugh every time but anyone who doesn't know the history thinks you/we are insane.
Not as insane as "Mad Dog", of course.
I've said too much already...
posted by hincandenza at 02:28 PM on October 25, 2012
Read this last night and was fascinated by it: it makes it sound like the game was played in some idyllic Past, where no one noticed and there was no hue and cry about Scandalous Cheaters and "What has happened to the game?" If this occurred last year, ESPN would have led with it for a week and run the guy out of the game, only to do a redemptive E:60 or 30 for 30 when it suited them to fill dead air.
And now I realize 1993 is almost two decades gone and probably does qualify as an idyllic Past.