The question on everybody?s mind is whether Richard Hamilton should have fouled Kobe Bryant and sent him to the line for two, instead of letting him rise up and fire in the tying three-pointer which eventually led to the Lakers? series-tying Game 2 overtime win.

But as is sometimes the case with last-second plays, the scenario may be distracting people from other significant moments.

With the Pistons up 89-86 and under 10 seconds to play in regulation, Ben Wallace was hounding Shaquille O?Neal who had just received an inbounds pass near the three-point line.  

Foul Shaq there and the game is yours, right?

Well not exactly.  The Pistons had a foul to give before they were over the limit and the Lakers were shooting free throws.

But long-time NBA defensive guru Tex Winter theorizes that you can foul Shaq and then foul whomever else receives the inbounds pass on the ensuing play, before Kobe ever gets it.

After all is said and done, however, maybe the best question really is, ?Why didn?t Rip foul Kobe??  Or ? maybe it is, ?How could Rip give Kobe that much room??