Clear path fouls?

[droopdog7]

Can someone explain the rule here?  There seemed to be two instances last night where it came into play.  The first was Rondo fouling chalmers with james ahead on the break.  I have to admit I was watching at a bar without sound so I am not completely sure what the refs were discussing there.  Were they actually looking to see if that was a clear path foul?  If so, I must not have an idea what a clear path foul really is.

The one on Pietrus also has me confused?  I thought clear path fouls didn't come into play at certain parts of the court?  If I am not mistaken, they were already under the three point line, yet the call was still made.  Not that the three point line is the cut off point is there on at all?

Just annoyed right now, like everyone else I suppose. 

[frombirdtogarnett]

Not sure who told you there is a cut off point on the court but there certainly isn't. The only cut off is if the player is in a shooting motion.

A clear path foul is just that, if a guy has a clear path to the basket and you foul him from behind or even to. You MUST be in front of him.

For instance, had Rondo fouled Chalmers from behind it would have been clear path even though there were players ahead of the play. That is why the refs watched the replay to see where Rondo was when he fouled Chalmers. However, he was pretty easily ahead of him.

MP foul on Wade was pretty dumb. I was hoping the refs would let it go as just a regular foul since it was late in a big playoff game but that doesn't excuse the fact it was a bonehead play by MP.

[cMac44111]

Clear Path to the Basket: If a fast break starts in a team’s backcourt and a defender fouls any offensive player when the team is going to score an easy basket, a clear path foul has occurred. When the foul happens, no defender can be ahead of the ball where he could defend against the easy basket.

http://www.nba.com/features/misunderstoodrules_051128.html#Clear_Path_to_the_Basket

[BballTim]

  They need to somehow ammend the rule to exclude plays where the defender is in front of the player before they foul. The fouls that are committed are safer than the fouls that are allowable.

[ballin]

The whole rule is absolutely ridiculous in my opinion. The point of the rule is to make it safer for the players (right?), but the only time I ever see it used is when a player does a little touch foul/grab to stop a fast break. Ironically, it encourages a defender to keep running to the basket and foul the crap out of the guy while he's mid-air going for a layup, which is much worse.

Or maybe I'm wrong, and the rule is simply to encourage more fast breaks/breakaway dunks. But even if that's the goal, it seems like a bad rule because players just ignore it and foul anyway.