Ja's Dunk was a charge

[libermaniac]

This looked like a clear charge to me.  Beasley's feet were set before Ja jumped, and he was outside the circle.  What am I missing?  I know it was an amazing athletic move, but why didn't the refs blow the whistle?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDOF56D0yo4

[Kiorrik]

Probably not.

But it's debatable.

I just framed through the video, and the first frame where the defender's feet are set, Ja already has terminated his dribble and has the ball up above his hips. The first image here:

https://imgur.com/a/hvMRZgp

The way the rule is enforced, for it to be a charge you have to establish position before the shooter begins his upward shooting motion.

This is very close. I went back two frames for the second image, so you can see that his feet are not set, although of course "feet set" isn't necessarily exactly how the rule is enforced - you just have to be "in position." Is he "in position in that second image?

If you frame through the video here:

https://streamable.com/sa8ocg

It looks to me like you can make the argument that he's set one frame before the first frame I grabbed, in that he's "still" in two successive frames by the frame I grabbed, but the upward motion has already begun by the second image I shared - a frame earlier.

I think that the defensive player would often get the call in this situation. It's crazy close. In the playoffs on calls like this I think the officials tend towards no-calls, and this is close enough that a no-call is not clearly wrong.

Source: https://old.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/ud9c2x/serious_why_wasnt_ja_morants_dunk_an_offensive/i6fh4te/

[BruceBanner18]

Official NBA Rulebook:

The defensive player may establish a legal guarding position in the path of the offensive player who received a pass inside the lower defensive box, regardless of speed or distance, by beating him to the spot. However, if the only contact is the offensive players penis to defensive players forehead, the charging rule does not apply.

[libermaniac]

Probably not.

But it's debatable.

I just framed through the video, and the first frame where the defender's feet are set, Ja already has terminated his dribble and has the ball up above his hips. The first image here:

https://imgur.com/a/hvMRZgp

The way the rule is enforced, for it to be a charge you have to establish position before the shooter begins his upward shooting motion.

This is very close. I went back two frames for the second image, so you can see that his feet are not set, although of course "feet set" isn't necessarily exactly how the rule is enforced - you just have to be "in position." Is he "in position in that second image?

If you frame through the video here:

https://streamable.com/sa8ocg

It looks to me like you can make the argument that he's set one frame before the first frame I grabbed, in that he's "still" in two successive frames by the frame I grabbed, but the upward motion has already begun by the second image I shared - a frame earlier.

I think that the defensive player would often get the call in this situation. It's crazy close. In the playoffs on calls like this I think the officials tend towards no-calls, and this is close enough that a no-call is not clearly wrong.

Source: https://old.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/ud9c2x/serious_why_wasnt_ja_morants_dunk_an_offensive/i6fh4te/

Thank you.  I thought his feet had to be set before Ja jumped.  But you are saying it's before he "begins his upward shooting motion".  I never knew that.

[Kiorrik]

Official NBA Rulebook:

The defensive player may establish a legal guarding position in the path of the offensive player who received a pass inside the lower defensive box, regardless of speed or distance, by beating him to the spot. However, if the only contact is the offensive players penis to defensive players forehead, the charging rule does not apply.

TP.

That is all.

[libermaniac]

Official NBA Rulebook:

The defensive player may establish a legal guarding position in the path of the offensive player who received a pass inside the lower defensive box, regardless of speed or distance, by beating him to the spot. However, if the only contact is the offensive players penis to defensive players forehead, the charging rule does not apply.

LOL.  TP

[Kiorrik]

Probably not.

But it's debatable.

I just framed through the video, and the first frame where the defender's feet are set, Ja already has terminated his dribble and has the ball up above his hips. The first image here:

https://imgur.com/a/hvMRZgp

The way the rule is enforced, for it to be a charge you have to establish position before the shooter begins his upward shooting motion.

This is very close. I went back two frames for the second image, so you can see that his feet are not set, although of course "feet set" isn't necessarily exactly how the rule is enforced - you just have to be "in position." Is he "in position in that second image?

If you frame through the video here:

https://streamable.com/sa8ocg

It looks to me like you can make the argument that he's set one frame before the first frame I grabbed, in that he's "still" in two successive frames by the frame I grabbed, but the upward motion has already begun by the second image I shared - a frame earlier.

I think that the defensive player would often get the call in this situation. It's crazy close. In the playoffs on calls like this I think the officials tend towards no-calls, and this is close enough that a no-call is not clearly wrong.

Source: https://old.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/ud9c2x/serious_why_wasnt_ja_morants_dunk_an_offensive/i6fh4te/

Thank you.  I thought his feet had to be set before Ja jumped.  But you are saying it's before he "begins his upward shooting motion".  I never knew that.

Well, some guy on Celtics blog (me) told you, that some guy on Reddit, said that that's the rule

So take everything with a grain of salt but it looks believable to me :]

[gouki88]

Never going to be called. Which I don't mind.

The Blake Griffin special of holding down the defender did bother me. https://youtu.be/dyHs4DuW8J0

[KG Living Legend]

This looked like a clear charge to me.  Beasley's feet were set before Ja jumped, and he was outside the circle.  What am I missing?  I know it was an amazing athletic move, but why didn't the refs blow the whistle?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDOF56D0yo4

 You can argue it was. But if you were Silver or the king of the NBA what would you advise the refs on that play.

 To.let one of the best dunks ever stand,  and the crowd go wild. The NBA needs to clean up the fouls that stop fast breaks, that's horrible for ratings.

[ETNCeltics]

As bad as our game 4 was officiated, last night's Mem/Minn game was even worse. League is desperate to keep Ja in the playoffs. That charge is not even close to the most outrageous call.

[SparzWizard]

As bad as our game 4 was officiated, last night's Mem/Minn game was even worse. League is desperate to keep Ja in the playoffs. That charge is not even close to the most outrageous call.

They want a Grizzlies/Warriors West Semis. It will draw more money and ratings. Curry/Klay/Green/Poole...and on the other side ya got the up and rising Ja Morant and other folks on the team who've been playing hot.

[tazzmaniac]

Looks like he used his left hand to push off Beasley to gain a little more elevation. 

[JohnBoy65]

Official NBA Rulebook:

The defensive player may establish a legal guarding position in the path of the offensive player who received a pass inside the lower defensive box, regardless of speed or distance, by beating him to the spot. However, if the only contact is the offensive players penis to defensive players forehead, the charging rule does not apply.

I read this 10 times. I could not believe this was actually in the NBA rulebook! Than I realized. Lol nicely done!

[SDceltGuy]

I love when a defender mans up and takes a charge while guarding his guy BUT I hate charge calls where a guy runs in the last second to take a charge and (even worse on a pass).  That isnt defense and is on par with offense sweeping arms to get a call.  These are legit basketball plays.  Call it a block every time and get it out of the league. 

[liam]

Official NBA Rulebook:

The defensive player may establish a legal guarding position in the path of the offensive player who received a pass inside the lower defensive box, regardless of speed or distance, by beating him to the spot. However, if the only contact is the offensive players penis to defensive players forehead, the charging rule does not apply.

I read this 10 times. I could not believe this was actually in the NBA rulebook! Than I realized. Lol nicely done!

It's in there!