Clear path is when you have a clear path to the basket.
Smart, did not have a clear path to the basket because 2 defenders were ahead of him on the court.
Come on guys.
I'm all for crapping on the refs because this league is rigged, but let's not misinterpret the rules.
Yeah, the call was right.
It's just the rule that is stupid. NBA has to take measures to eliminate those take fouls on fast breaks. Especially ones like that
But White was ahead of any Brooklyn defender. It's not just the fouled player, is it? I feel like I distinctly remember calls where they've made the clear path foul because another teammate was the closest to the basket, making it their clear path that was stopped.
Here's the clear path rule simplification:
Example of Clear Path Rule Simplifications
September 30, 2018
The changes to the clear path foul rule establish “bright line” standards based on the position of players at the time of the foul while also narrowing required referee judgment and reducing the number of variables impacting the rule’s application.
A clear path foul is now defined as a personal foul against any offensive player during his team’s transition scoring opportunity in the following circumstances: the ball is ahead of the tip of the circle in the backcourt; no defender is ahead of the offensive player with the transition scoring opportunity; the player with the transition scoring opportunity is in control of the ball (or a pass has been thrown to him); and if the foul deprives his team of an opportunity to score.
https://official.nba.com/example-of-clear-path-rule-simplifications/
So I guess 3 conditions weren't met - the ball was behind the tip of the circle, there was at least 1 defender between Smart and White, and the player with the ball was Smart and not White, who was the one with the transition scoring opportunity. So by that definition it wasn't clear path.
That said, I agree with Gouki - the letter of the law wasn't met but the spirit of the law is to try and punish these take fouls that prevent scoring opportunities, and we had a clear one there because it was one pass to White and there was nobody between him and the basket. They should probably look at amending the rule (but we know they won't).