If it was clearly intended to be a pass, refs will be reluctant to call a goal tend. And, as the years go by, the reluctance to call a goal tend, just like the reluctance to call carries or traveling, only grows.

Now, I know I have seen goal tending called on ally-oops that got too close to the rim before being caught, but it's been a while and I can't recall an instance off the top of my head.