Here's the basket interference rule....I bolded the relevant part. I wanted to make sure I had it right. The officials must have ruled that the entire ball had not cleared the basket ring. Damn, I wish I could see that replay again.
RULE NO. 11BASKET INTERFERENCEGOALTENDING Section IA Player Shall Not: a. Touch the ball or the basket ring when the ball is using the basket ring as its lower base or hang on the rim while the ball is passing through. EXCEPTION: If a player near his own basket has his hand legally in contact with the ball, it is not a violation if his contact with the ball continues after the ball enters the cylinder, or if, in such action, he touches the basket. b. Touch any ball from within the playing area when it is above the basket ring and within the imaginary cylinder. c. During a field goal attempt, touch a ball, which has a chance to score, after it has touched any part of the backboard above ring level, whether the ball is considered on its upward or downward flight. d. During a field goal attempt, touch a ball, which has a chance to score, after it has touched the backboard below the ring level and while the ball is on its upward flight.
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e. Trap the ball against the face of the backboard after it has been released. (To be a trapped ball, three elements must exist simultaneously. The hand, the ball and the backboard must all occur at the same time. A batted ball against the backboard is not a trapped ball.) f. Touch any ball from within the playing area that is on its downward flight with an opportunity to score. This is considered to be a field goal attempt or trying for a goal. g. Touch the ball at any time with a hand which is through the basket ring. h. Vibrate the rim, net or backboard so as to cause the ball to make an unnatural bounce, or bend or move the rim to an off-center position when the ball is touching the ring or passing through. i. Touch the rim, net or ball while the ball is in the net, preventing it from clearing the basket.
RULE NO. 11BASKET INTERFERENCEGOALTENDING Section IA Player Shall Not: a. Touch the ball or the basket ring when the ball is using the basket ring as its lower base or hang on the rim while the ball is passing through. EXCEPTION: If a player near his own basket has his hand legally in contact with the ball, it is not a violation if his contact with the ball continues after the ball enters the cylinder, or if, in such action, he touches the basket. b. Touch any ball from within the playing area when it is above the basket ring and within the imaginary cylinder. c. During a field goal attempt, touch a ball, which has a chance to score, after it has touched any part of the backboard above ring level, whether the ball is considered on its upward or downward flight. d. During a field goal attempt, touch a ball, which has a chance to score, after it has touched the backboard below the ring level and while the ball is on its upward flight.
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e. Trap the ball against the face of the backboard after it has been released. (To be a trapped ball, three elements must exist simultaneously. The hand, the ball and the backboard must all occur at the same time. A batted ball against the backboard is not a trapped ball.) f. Touch any ball from within the playing area that is on its downward flight with an opportunity to score. This is considered to be a field goal attempt or trying for a goal. g. Touch the ball at any time with a hand which is through the basket ring. h. Vibrate the rim, net or backboard so as to cause the ball to make an unnatural bounce, or bend or move the rim to an off-center position when the ball is touching the ring or passing through. i. Touch the rim, net or ball while the ball is in the net, preventing it from clearing the basket.
