What would you change about NBA officiating?

[fairweatherfan]

TP for anyone who can find out when the NBA instituted the original illeagal defense rule. That would allow me to try and make the point I want to make.

Well, it looks like the zone defense was officially banned midway through the 46-47 season, which if I'm not mistaken was Year 1. 

http://www.nba.com/analysis/rules_history.html

Great little page that summarizes rule changes over the years, BTW.

[Toine43]

TP for anyone who can find out when the NBA instituted the original illeagal defense rule. That would allow me to try and make the point I want to make.

Well, it looks like the zone defense was officially banned midway through the 46-47 season, which if I'm not mistaken was Year 1. 

http://www.nba.com/analysis/rules_history.html

Great little page that summarizes rule changes over the years, BTW.

Thanks. That is a great page to know about. Too bad my point is ruined though.

[BCelts]

With star treatment already addressed quite thoroughly here, I'll go to my other pet peeve, one that FWF touched on tangentially in his OP: situational officiating as far as the last few minutes of a game are concerned.

This idea that the best way to "let the players decide the game" is by swallowing the whistles at the end of games drives me insane.  The way to "let the players decide" is to let them play by the same rules for 48 minutes every night.  A foul is a foul is a foul, whether it happens on the first possession or the last.

This is one that I've written a Babble on before and could end up with me destroying our forum bandwidth, so I'll stop there because I think the concept is clear.  But that annoys me to no end.

***

Also, since some names come up, my triumvirate of must-go officials, in no particular order is as follows (and you know it's bad when Bavetta doesn't even make my star trio): Ken Mauer, Violet Palmer, Bennett Salvatore

Bennett gets special recognition for making the single most absurd call I've ever witnessed, waving off a would-be four-point play for Pierce and calling an offensive foul in Game 6 of last year's ECF.

-sw

Salvatore should have lost his job right then and there for that call. It is indeed the single worst call I've ever seen.

I agree.  The only time I have broken a remote control was incidential to that call.

[BCelts]

I agree NBA officiating is a real problem.  Here are eight steps I would take to clean it up:

1.  Focus on consistency in multiple aspects:

1A.  I would try first to make sure that refs called games consistently throughout.  No swallowing whistles at the end of the game.  No make up calls.  Call what you see in the moment, nothing else.  In fact, I think that some of the league's analysis may hurt the refs because they are trying to analyze in game. 

1B.  Secondarily (within this point) I would focus on consistency between different refs.  The goal should be (A) in-game consistency and (B) game to game consistency.  Players should know what is and what is not a foul or violation.

1C.  Third (within this point), the game should be called the same for all players.  I don't care if it is Gabe Pruitt or LeBron James.  The same action brings the same result.  Honestly, it is not LBJ or Kobe that p--- me off here, as much as MF Ron Artest.  This man has made a habit of playing more physical than the rules allow.  The refs have adjusted and therefore only call the most physical of his contact.  If any other player performed the same acts as Artest did, they would foul out in short order.  This needs to be fixed.  If I buy a ticket to a Rockets - Pacers game, and Ron fouls out in 6 minutes, so be it.  At least the game is being called correctly and we have a better chance to see "basketball" rather than "politicize with the refs" on the court in front of us.

1D.  Moving screens/holding.  Probably the biggest probably (besides traveling) in the modern NBA game.  I've see big men move slightly (Perk comes to mind) on a screen and get called for a hip multiple times, while I watch Rip Hamilton and, for another, Paul Pierce, hug their way through a screen. The best example of this is Utah, they don't set screens but, instead, block like offensive tackles with their hands inside, holding, between the numbers.  I actually don't mind what the league decides is or is not a proper screen (I'd prefer the old set-your-feet-and-protect-your-privates without movement if given my druthers), but these need to be called consistently, whether large or small.

2.  Call traveling.  The NCAA does it.  It is not that hard.  Call it the same way every time.  Aside from the three-step running dunk, I especially detest where a player drives the lane, gets a little bump, travels because of it, but there is a no call.  Either call the foul or call the travel, but there is no discretion in the rules to "let it go."

3.  While we are on the topic, I absolutely am incensed by the recent trend (last three years or so) of calling a foul only if it prevents the shot from going in.  The C's get away with this also, and it p---es me off then, too.  No time delayed calls, no waiting to see what happens with the shot, call the foul or don't. 

4.  One step in the right direction for the league would be to prevent players from talking to refs.  Complain about a call, get a T.  That simple.  These refs have one of the hardest jobs in sports.  They don't benefit at all from player lobbying, whining, complaining, or explaining.  Just get rid of it and put the game back into the spot light, not the drama.

5.  Call initiation of contact offensively.  If Dwayne Wade has a half step on his defender and is driving to the hoop, he frequently jumps INTO his defender.  This is an offensive foul - Wade initiated the contact.  I'm content with the L deciding these are no calls, as a rule, so long as it is consistent.  I am not content with this being a defensive foul.  It simply is not.


Yes, I am passionate about this topic.  I think this, along with widening the court 1.5 feet on either side, are the best ways to improve what I consider to be the best sport in the world.