Can someone explain to me what happened on that last play? I've watched the replay a few times and I just can't figure it out. Was it a bad inbounds pass? Did IT just bobble it? Was it the Phoenix defender that happened to be in the right position?
I guess what I'm asking is, was it as sloppy as it looked to my eye? I know it's a March game against a bottom feeder but you can't be that sloppy in the final seconds of any game.
Here's how I saw it:
4 seconds left on the clock. No timeouts for either team. IT split a pair of free throws and Bledsoe just ran the length of the court, lost Rozier on a screen, blew by Crowder and hit an acrobatic layup to tie the game.
IT and Smart both called for the ball. Phoenix fell into a soft full court press, not really pressuring the catch.
Crowder inbounded it easily to Thomas. IT, knowing there's limited time left on the clock, didn't catch the ball immediately. Instead, he was content to let it pass by him so he could get a running start and try get the clock to start as late as possible. The ball bounced past him casually and Chriss tried to make a play. IT, seeing the active defender, dashed towards the ball but it was too late. Both players ran into each other and there was a scramble. The ball popped loose and bounced towards Ulis.
You know the rest....