That is totally incorrect. If the offensive player has jumped up or is in mid stride and on the move, then the defensive player must allow the finish of the move. If the offensive player is standing still as bryant was, then you can get as close as you want. Finally, this call was made before when bryant elbowed him in the face and christie was whistled in game 4. Further, bryant's elbowing in both cases was not accidental. I've played probably 8000 games of pick up basketball in the last 40 years and we basketball players, especially guards, have wonderful and exact body control. I remember one case where a girl was playing and I was shooting a jumper and she undercut my lower body. As I was coming down, my elbow was going to land on her head and while I could have moved it. I convieniently let it stay there and clunked her. No, the bryant elbows are no accident. His reaction times and body control are way too good for that.