[zaga_fan]

I love the five-second closely guarded call ... mainly because people don't understand it.

A player can maintain possession for more than 12 consecutive seconds (actually about 14.7) without the call IN THE SAME SPOT.

Here's how:
- Player catches pass from teammate. Count starts. Player holds ball for 4.9 seconds.
- Player dribbles, but not in a particular direction. Count restarts. Player dribbles for 4.9 seconds.
- Player picks up his dribble. Count restarts. Player holds ball for 4.9 seconds before passing.
- The teammate player passes too can be across the court and as long as the pass was thrown NOT RECEIVED before the five-second count has elapsed, no violation.

So actually more than 15 seconds could go by -- assuming the pass takes more than .3 or .4 seconds -- with only one player being closely guarded touching the ball.

Also...
If there is a defensive switch and as long as one player is the minimum distance away at all times...

The count does NOT restart.

[59Boomerang]

If player is in backcourt picks up his dribble and no one to pass to can he throw ball off opposing teams backboard and recover ball?

[ballstar]

If player is in backcourt picks up his dribble and no one to pass to can he throw ball off opposing teams backboard and recover ball?

ARE YOU SERIOUS????? I truly had no idea you could do that. That's easily the craziest rule I've ever heard!!! Learn something everyday I guess.

[RunItUpTheGut]

^
He was asking, not telling.

[59Boomerang]

Not saying you can but asking.....,Does anyone know?

[ballstar]

^oh, my bad. I need to learn how to read better. Sorry.

[Gamecast]

Seen a lot of instances this year where a kid goes up for a LeBron block (chasing down the player with the ball and trying to swat it off the backboard) and fails to make contact with the ball, however the goal shaking as a result causes the ball to miss. This should be goaltending but is not clearly stated in the rule book anywhere that I can find.

[rightykay]

Sometimes I wonder if the refs completely understand these rules.