Knicks protest Game 3 loss because of clock problems

Associated Press, 4/23/2004 15:28

GREENBURGH, N.Y. (AP) The New York Knicks have filed a protest with the NBA, claiming the clock malfunctioned twice in the final 1:50 of their Game 3 playoff loss to the New Jersey Nets.

Knicks president Isiah Thomas said the protest was made after the Nets posted an 81-78 win at Madison Square Garden on Thursday night to take a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven first-round playoff series.

Thomas contended that the clock stoppage gave the Nets more than the allotted 24 seconds on two late possessions, the first time in the series the final minutes meant something.

''Whatever the league decides to do we'll live with,'' Thomas said Friday at the Knicks practice facility.

NBA spokesman Brian McIntyre said the league received the protest, and it hoped to have a ruling either Friday or Saturday.

Thomas wasn't sure what would happen if the Knicks won the protest.

He quipped, ''The best possible scenario for me right now would be up 3-0.''

The first stoppage happened with 1:50 to go and eight seconds left on the shot clock, both of which are controlled by the game officials.

The sequence ended with Kenyon Martin of the Nets being fouled by Kurt Thomas with New Jersey ahead 75-73.

A videotape of the game seemed to show that Martin probably would have been fouled before a shot clock violation, although Thomas insisted Martin would have been under much more pressure with the shot clock winding down.

Martin missed both foul shots on the play.

The second malfunction happened with 29.2 seconds left and New Jersey leading 77-76. There were 11 seconds left on the shot clock.

Martin converted a three-point play to stop play.

The videotape showed Martin would have scored with about five seconds left on the shot clock.

Thomas said both problems with the clock were probably technical problems.

Game 4 is scheduled for Sunday, also at Madison Square Garden.

Typical Zeke, third franchise he is setting on fire. #1 upper management tool, assigning scapegoats after failure. Heads will roll for this, just not mine. Let's focus on these inept timekeepers, instead of the crappy playoff roster I assembled. Well he is under the microscope now, and all the world can see if he succeeds/fails. Betting his past performances, 2-1 fails again. Loved Isiah the point guard, did not care for Isiah the coach. Isiah the GM is just sad. Give him one to 2 full seasons, then adios. Best Wishes...OF

ok the first time it happens martin misses 2 ft's and is still within 24 secs even with the malfunction. . .ok no harm there

the second time NJ hits a 3 and without the malfunction there is still 5 secs left. . .ok no harm there

isiah the knicks suck, new jersey is whooping your teams ass why embarass yourself like this especially when you really dont even have a case?

OF, perhaps thomas is not "omnivorous" enough to cut it as a GM

"...He quipped, ''The best possible scenario for me right now would be up 3-0''..."

is he really this dumb?!

EXCUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUSE ME!

where the hell was the game played?

NEW YORK!

who was the HOME TEAM - therefore - the team in control of the clock

NEW YORK!

cry me a freakin river here - will ya?!

if this game were in the swamp - i might pay more attention to it - but the knicks are complaining about something that happened at a KNICKS home game?!

SHUT UP!

look - we all know isiah sucks donkey balls all day and is one of the WORST executives in the history of the nba. this is just a lame attempt to deflect the attention from his stupid moves which will haunt the knicks for years to come - not that isiah will care - for he will be LONG gone by then - either fired or forced to quit because both knicks fans (at that time) will wanna hang him!

oh, yeah - one more thing. if the knicks had WON this game - think they woulda brought this up - or do you think they woulda stayed quiet?

me, too!

Greetings Rob, a non story if Thomas says, timekeeper screwed up, but it did not affect us. We still would have lost. But they would have played defense differently. Sure Zeke, I'll buy that in a NY minute. OMNIVOROUS he is not. Maybe politically astute. Got himself hired, but NY desperate for anything. Was Scott Layden the last name savior? Cupboard not exactly full, deals one of his proven guys for some unproven scrubs. Maybe Keith not a NY kind of player. Hiring Lenny, guess Motta was not interested. How many losses does old Lenny have now? Very safe but a setback hire. Too bad Hubie was not available, he seems to have the youngsters ears, how would he do as a NY coach? Laid back lenny great match for old school, self motivated, for the team kind of players. But watched young Toronto squad unravel on him. Thought that might be his last gig, it was as ugly fall. So Zeke does the safe but wrong GM move there. Like I said, his days are already numbered by this playoff showing. NY fans are some of the most educated, and forward. Once the media slants against him, see ya. My O/U is 2 seasons, from today. Worst GM stilling carrying title, Matt Millen. Ford gets another Edsel. I hope they suspend that timekeeper, show him what imcompetence gets. He cost the Knicks the series! At least that is story after sweep/loss. Best wishes...OF

worst GM, you certainly have to consider Danny Ainge. tottaly dismantles '92 young eastern confrence runner up team including the coach who got them there. and even manages to be the worst team NOT in the NBA lottery, despite wanting his team to do badly enough to be in there.

Danny off to poor start shaking wrong things up. But I still give him benefit of the doubt, GM has 3 seasons to do something in my book. You would know what his gameplan longterm is more than I. Best Wsihes...OF

UPDATE:
NBA commissioner David Stern denied a protest Friday filed by the Knicks, who claimed the clock stopped twice in the final 1:50 of their Game 3 loss on Thursday night.
The league acknowledged the two stoppages occurred but determined neither was detrimental to New York, spokesman Brian McIntyre said.
Before the NBA's announcement, Knicks president Isiah Thomas said he would live with whatever the league decided.
"I am still fighting for our season, and the competitor in me will do everything in the rules to make sure we will stay alive," Thomas said.
Thomas wouldn't say it, but he wanted the NBA to order the teams to replay the final 1:50 of the game the Nets won 81-78. New Jersey had the ball with a two-point lead when the clock malfunctioned.
Thomas said the protest was filed immediately after the game ended.
Game 4 of the best-of-seven series is scheduled for Sunday night at Madison Square Garden.
Most of the Knicks watched film and did some shooting Friday. The Nets had the day off.
The Knicks' public relations department brought along its own videotape to make its clock case with the media.
The first stoppage happened with 1:50 to go and eight seconds left on the shot clock, both of which are controlled by the game officials.
The sequence ended with Kenyon Martin of the Nets being fouled by Kurt Thomas with New Jersey ahead 75-73.
The videotape indicated that Martin probably would have been fouled just before a shot clock violation, although Thomas insisted Martin would have been under much more pressure with the clock winding down.
Martin missed both ensuing free throws.
The second malfunction happened with 29.2 seconds left and New Jersey leading 77-76. There were 11 seconds left on the shot clock.
Martin converted a three-point play shortly after the clock stopped.
The videotape showed Martin would have scored with about five seconds left on the shot clock.
Thomas said both were probably technical problems.
"This is not about officials' judgments," Thomas said. "You are allowed 24 seconds to complete an offensive play, and we think New Jersey was given more time to complete those plays."
Nets coach Lawrence Frank didn't know about either the clock problems or the protest until Friday.
"For whatever reason, they protested the game, but yet both shots would have counted even if the clock had been working properly," Frank said. "But you are concerned for the integrity of the game and it didn't affect the outcome, so I was a little bit surprised that they protested."