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The Rockets planned to file their appeal within
the 48 hours required to protest. Relevant evidence by both
teams must then be provided within five days. After receiving
the evidence, NBA commissioner Adam Silver must issue a ruling
within a five-day period.
The Rockets were hoping a judgment by the league wouldn't
require filing a protest but are doing so to ensure the NBA
makes a ruling.
Their argument will cite that Harden's dunk that wasn't counted
is an example of a "misapplication of rules," and should have
been correctly recorded as a two-point basket, according to
sources at ESPN. The Rockets believe it shouldn't be considered
a judgment call by the officials.
The failure by officials to allow a coach's challenge will also
be a secondary factor cited in the protest.
The play in question occurred with 7:50 left in regulation, when
Harden dunked so hard on a breakaway, the ball appeared to not
make it through the net.
The dunk would have given the Rockets a 104-89 lead.
Crew chief James Capers explained afterward why they disallowed
the field goal.
"When the play happened, Harden goes in for a dunk, and then the
ball appears to us to pop back through the net," Capers said.
"When that happens, that is basket interference. To have a
successful field goal, it must clear the net. We have since come
in here and looked at the play. He dunked it so hard that the
net carried it back over the rim a second time, so in fact it
did clear the net and should have been a successful field goal."
Capers also said that while the Rockets were protesting, the
30-second window for requesting a challenge passed.
Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni insists he did try to challenge it.
"They said that the ball hit James and went back through (the
hoop), so it was goaltending on James, so I said, 'I challenge
that,'" D'Antoni told reporters. "I didn't get a response.
Another guy said that it wasn't goaltending, it just went out of
bounds on us. I said, 'Well, I challenge that.' They go, 'Can't
do that.' I don't know. I didn't get an explanation. I got
nothin'."
The Rockets also have indicated in their protest that a basket
interference call was not made, according to ESPN sources.
--Field Level Media
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