Question for Dviss about 3 in the key

So I would really like to get a refs opinion on this.

I feel like I'm constantly watching guys camped out in the middle. We have this rule, but it seems like it's sparingly enforced.

Do you call it more often in high school? Why is it that the rule isn't enforced very often?

 

Well you just have to step one foot out every so often.

 

I'm on my way home but I have an answer I'll post in a bit.

 

One foot in one foot out.......

 

This is HCP chanting while hanging out with that killer shoe collection

 

Nah, I see guys with both feet in, no feet out, and they're allowed to chill for much longer than 3 seconds.

Think about how short three seconds is... one one thousand..... two one thousand.... three one thousand...... that's it. You can't be in the key for more than three seconds or technically you've broken the rule and the ball should go to the other team.

 

I think (and obviously this is dviss's to answer) it's a three-count rather than three seconds, because the key is bigger than it used to be but the rule never changed... so more like five seconds, three-count is okay. Kind of like inbounding is a five-count rather than five seconds...

 

This isn't dancing! What is this madness you're talking about?

 

Is HCP doing the Hokey-Pokey?

<Shudders at mental visualization>

 

Now you've got to put together a video of guys camping in the key with the "Hokey Pokey" playing in the background.

BTW, props on that piece in the last game with the black & white video. I thought that was cool.

 

Great minds think alike - hokey-pokey.

Either that or just "old" minds that can't think of anything more insightful.

 

I was addicted to the hokey-pokey once, but then I turned myself around.

 

Unfortunately, it's probably the latter. I made my post and then saw that you went the same direction and then wondered if HCP even has a clue about what the heck we're talking about.

 

You probably thought that was what the jail in Lebanon is called.

 

First let's talk about why the three second rule exists:

Being in the key gives players who are bigger and stronger a distinct advantage inside. The time in the key is limited to 3 seconds so that advantage isn't exploited.

There are lots of common misconceptions about this rule so let's make a few things clear:

The count does not start until the player with the ball establishes themselves as a frontcourt player (gets both feet and the ball past the division line). So, in the NBA a player can be in the key for 7.9 seconds without a turnover if the ball is in the backcourt.

The count stops when a shot goes up or the player with the ball at 2.9 seconds recieves it and goes up for a shot immediately.

This is not a letter of the law call. Because if it were called it that way it would be called 20 or so times a game and you'd see a ref over blowing his whistle instead of a basketball game.

The violation is called on a player who has been inside the key area for 3 seconds AND has gained an advantage from being there.

So if a player has been in the key for 3 seconds and has not gained an advantage from it (better scoring/rebounding position) it's not something you call UNTIL the advantage is gained.

 

Fascinating. My understanding of the rule was completely wrong.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

There are lots of rules people just don't understand until they've administered them under pressure. One thing I'll give NBA officials is they do their job with lots of scrutiny. It's hard AF to do what they do.