Comments on: O.J. Mayo’s Controversial Save

By: Josh

Josh — Wed, 11 May 2011 20:03:25 +0000

I am a neutral fan in this series, but I was screaming at my TV while I was watching this and listening to the TNT announcers. Not one of them even mentioned the *possibility*, or more important the reality, that Mayo’s position when he jumped needed to be considered. Instead, over and over again, from every angle, they just kept looking at when the ball hit Harden/when Harden landed. My wife had to hear me yelling over and over, “His foot was on the line!” Their obliviousness became almost comical when they kept applauding the officials for the excellent job they were doing in reviewing the play, still failing to, just once, say, “Well, you know, it’s possible Mayo was on the line when he jumped after that ball…” I was furious on your behalf, OKC. That call completely changed the momentum of that overtime. I’m glad you guys came out with the win. If you had lost, I would have said you’d been robbed.

Let’s hope the officiating gets better, to the point where they consider maybe checking guys’ feet.

By: Oliver

Oliver — Wed, 11 May 2011 15:26:37 +0000

The call was overturned, the ref originally called Thunder ball. even the announcers said that to overturn that call it would have to be clear and decisive. but it got overturned.

By: Sam

Sam — Tue, 10 May 2011 22:28:47 +0000

Will KD/Westbrook end up like these two?

http://unstoppablebaby.wordpress.com/2011/05/10/lanky-and-speedy-or-a-cautionary-tale-for-the-oklahoma-city-thunder/

By: Hoopdie

Hoopdie — Tue, 10 May 2011 22:12:54 +0000

I noticed this when it happened and were disappointed (albeit not surprised) when the announcers didn’t at least discuss the possibility that Mayo was out of bounds. TNT’s angles weren’t great but I thought it was darn close and, frankly, I figured that was the only thing worth reviewing. If Mayo wasn’t out of bounds, then the ball clearly went off Harden’s head while Harden was out of bounds.

By: lesterfreamon

lesterfreamon — Tue, 10 May 2011 21:41:59 +0000

Put it this way: say the refs had noticed before the replay that Mayo might have been out of bounds before he jumped, but didn’t call it because they weren’t sure. On replay, they would have to look at two things: whether Mayo was out before he jumped, and whether he threw the ball off Harden before landing out of bounds. Surely they’d be able to look at both questions to decide who should get the ball. And the only difference between that situation and last night’s would be that the refs knew to look for both things going into the replay. (We presume they weren’t looking for both things last night.) I just don’t think there’s a rule that obligates the refs to only consider factors they knew to look for before taking a look at the replay.

By: lesterfreamon

lesterfreamon — Tue, 10 May 2011 21:35:19 +0000

I’m not sure you’re right about that rule. The refs are allowed to use instant replay to determine who caused the ball to go out of bounds. Whether Mayo had his foot on the line before jumping to save the ball is part of that determination. I know they can’t use instant replay to make a call they didn’t make in live action, but I don’t think there’s a rule prohibiting refs from deciding a properly reviewed matter based on factors that didn’t occur to them before they saw the replay. Your example is different because foul calls aren’t reviewable, and because whether Harden fouled Mayo would be a separate question from who the ball was out on.

By: Brandon

Brandon — Tue, 10 May 2011 21:25:55 +0000

“At any rate, I’ve put in a request to the league to get clarification on the call. Hopefully, I can get something official about that sequence to help better explain why the refs didn’t overturn the call and award possession to the Thunder.”

Great stuff, Darnell. This is why you are #1 at NewsOK with all Thunder fans. Thanks for what you do.