Point Of Fact

? Can a team play with fewer than five players?

?A team must begin a game with five players. If it has no substitutes to replace players who have fouled out, it may continue with fewer than five men. Upon occasion, a team with a one-man advantage caused by fouling out has voluntarily sacrificed a player to equalize the game.

? Team A has used its allotted five timeouts. The coach of Team A, however, wishes to discuss the game situation with his players. He signals his captain to ask for another time-out. Can his team get it?

?Yes, at a price. Time-outs in excess of five are charged as technical fouls. Such a request is rare since the technical foul results in a free throw for the opposition.

? When is the three-second rule invoked by a referee?

?This violation is called when an offensive player remains in the free-throw lane for more than three seconds.

? Team A has the ball out of bounds. The throw-in, aimed for the tall center, is so high that the ball goes into the basket without touching any player. Does Team A have a goal?

?No. The ball is considered dead until a player on the floor touches it. Team B would gain possession for the violation.

? If a shot enters the basket from below, goes through and drops back into the basket again, is it a goal?

?No. A goal is scored only when a ball enters the basket from above and remains in the basket or passes through.