[Tricky]

It was a deflected pass is what was said, therefore it wasnt a shot. It is the same thing that if you are standing outside the 3 point line, bounce the ball inside the line and if it goes in it is a two. Even thought the passer was outside the three line, it was a pass, if he would have gotten fouled, he wouldnt get three shots for it. Deflecting a 3 point shot still counts as a three pointer because if he got fouled, it would have been three free throws.

Good answer, so part of it has to do with the ref's decision. Had the ball not been deflected and went straight in, it would have been a three. But since they determined that it was a pass, the closest player to the goal rule comes into play, which makes it a two.