I think they should change the review standard on block / charge calls

[Roy H.]

The NBA rulebook allows instant replay review in certain circumstances.  One of those is the review of whether a player was within the restricted circle if a charge / block is called (in the last two minutes of the game).

I'm 100% fine with that aspect of the rule.  Boundary issues (out of bounds, half court violations, 3PT vs. 2PT, etc.) are a sensible use of replay.

Unfortunately, the explanation of the charge / block review reads as follows:

Restricted Area Block/Charge Review

Since the 2012-13 season, referees have reviewed all block/charge calls when they are not reasonably certain as to whether the defender was inside or outside of the restricted area. For more information about what constitutes a block or a charge, click here). Restricted area replays are conducted only during the last two minutes of the fourth period and during all of overtime.

When conducting their review, referees attempt to confirm or overturn their original call.

The call is deemed a block if referees deem the defender was:

    Not in a legal guarding position, or
    In a legal guarding position, but inside the restricted area
    The call is deemed a charge if the defender was in a legal guarding position and outside the restricted area.
    Referees also determine if any unsportsmanlike acts or unnecessary contact occurred.

I don't like that aspect.  Allowing refs to freeze frame a play to overrule a discretionary call in this instance seems arbitrary.  Why aren't all foul calls subject to review in the last two minutes?  Why restrict it to just charges?  And why isn't there a "clear video evidence" standard if they're going to go down that route?

It seems like this is one more tool in the toolbox of refs to influence the game, and it just seems out of place.

[droopdog7]

Frankly I was shocked to learn that they could do that last night.  Makes no sense and is inconsistent with the fact that they can’t review any other missed fouls, of which there were many.

[hodgy03038]

I have never seen the charge/block call reversed ever until last night. It is a home town call. The call should have stood as called when realizing he was well outside the restricted area. I really dislike both teams - Cleveland for obvious reasons but GSW because of their cockiness but that call should have stood as called.

[Moranis]

I think they should do it more often or not at all, but that said, they need the rule to be an egregious oversight or something along the lines.  They should never overturn a bang bang judgment call that wasn't egregiously wrong.  You know the NFL standard of indisputable video evidence.  If that is the standard, that remains a charge last night since that is what was originally called and it clearly wasn't an egregious call (I mean Steve Javee said it was a charge).

[DefenseWinsChamps]

I think they should do it more often or not at all, but that said, they need the rule to be an egregious oversight or something along the lines.  They should never overturn a bang bang judgment call that wasn't egregiously wrong.  You know the NFL standard of indisputable video evidence.  If that is the standard, that remains a charge last night since that is what was originally called and it clearly wasn't an egregious call (I mean Steve Javee said it was a charge).

I agree with this. Reviews can be valuable, but they have to have indisputable evidence.

The refs probably made the right call overturning it ACCORDING TO THE RULES THEY HAD. I think the rules were broken, but they refs did a good job.

[angryguy77]

As long as this rule is in place to screw over LeRoid, count me as one that's all for keeping it.

[Ogaju]

I think they should do it more often or not at all, but that said, they need the rule to be an egregious oversight or something along the lines.  They should never overturn a bang bang judgment call that wasn't egregiously wrong.  You know the NFL standard of indisputable video evidence.  If that is the standard, that remains a charge last night since that is what was originally called and it clearly wasn't an egregious call (I mean Steve Javee said it was a charge).

STEVE JARVEE said it was a charge because the studio refs NEVER disagree with the call on the court. I bet he forgot they could reverse the call or he could have hedged. I say this though I believe it was a charge.

[johnnygreen]

It is a terrible rule. In my mind, LeBron wasn't even close to the restricted area, so the review made no sense to me and should have never happened.  As I said last night, fouls should only be made in real time, especially for charge calls. You could nit pick a defender moving in slow motion, but not necessarily in real time. I understand the refs changed the call during replay, but it wasn't indisputable to overturn.

[chiken Green]

This wasn't the first time this happened, It was only the first time in the finals..

And Bron was definitely leaning into Durant...

  The Ref's 1st instinct was to call it in Lebrons Favor (right or wrong..) But when they realized it was The other Superstar they decided to do the "Fair" thing... and get the call right.

[Moranis]

I think they should do it more often or not at all, but that said, they need the rule to be an egregious oversight or something along the lines.  They should never overturn a bang bang judgment call that wasn't egregiously wrong.  You know the NFL standard of indisputable video evidence.  If that is the standard, that remains a charge last night since that is what was originally called and it clearly wasn't an egregious call (I mean Steve Javee said it was a charge).

STEVE JARVEE said it was a charge because the studio refs NEVER disagree with the call on the court. I bet he forgot they could reverse the call or he could have hedged. I say this though I believe it was a charge.

Oh he clearly knew they could change the call as they talked about it before he gave his opinion on it.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

I have never seen the charge/block call reversed ever until last night. It is a home town call. The call should have stood as called when realizing he was well outside the restricted area. I really dislike both teams - Cleveland for obvious reasons but GSW because of their cockiness but that call should have stood as called.

I have no comment on this play, as I'm not watching the Finals—except for the Smith snafu; couldn't resist catching that "highlight"—but I wanted to say I like your sig. I lost all of my TPs—more than 980—thanks to their brilliant shooting.

[johnnygreen]

BTW, how could the refs reverse the charge call on LeBron on replay, but not reverse their call on Tristian Thompson's phantom flagrant fall.

[PhoSita]

I think if they're gonna go and spend time reviewing something, they ought to be able to recognize if they made a mistake.

Obviously we don't want them doing video review on every foul call, but if they're already going to look at the tape anyway, especially with something like a charge where you can clearly see if somebody is still moving their feet when the offensive player has started their motion, they ought to be able to correct the mistake.

Last night, LeBron was not quite in place quick enough.  His feet were still moving.  It would have been an error for the game to be decided by a charge call there instead of a block.

I would point out that LeBron's been a beneficiary of many, many block calls in his favor over the course of his career, as well, so no need to feel sorry for him.

[GratefulCs]

i just find it amazing how many fans (especially over on realgm) are upset about that foul being called correctly

[CelticsBR]

The greatest stupidity of all that review is that there is should be no reasonable doubt about the fact that LeBron was NOT in the restricted area. It should've never gone to review in the first place