Stern Speaks on the Refs/NBA Officiating Poll (Merged)

[nickagneta]

  I'd say the officiating is no worse than last year or the year before.

Yeah, but it's no better either and Stern promised better, more credible and more honest officiating after the Donaghy scandal and after naming his General friend head of officiating. He is living in a vaccuum and is oblivious to the damage his refs are doing to the integrity of hisgame if he believes there is nothing wrong with the officiating because TV ratings are high.

[Hoyo de Monterrey]

  I'd say the officiating is no worse than last year or the year before.

Yeah, but it's no better either and Stern promised better, more credible and more honest officiating after the Donaghy scandal and after naming his General friend head of officiating. He is living in a vaccuum and is oblivious to the damage his refs are doing to the integrity of hisgame if he believes there is nothing wrong with the officiating because TV ratings are high.

[dang it] Nick i just TPed you somewhere else... Give me an hour before you type a TP worthy post next time 

[BballTim]

  I'd say the officiating is no worse than last year or the year before.

Yeah, but it's no better either and Stern promised better, more credible and more honest officiating after the Donaghy scandal and after naming his General friend head of officiating. He is living in a vaccuum and is oblivious to the damage his refs are doing to the integrity of hisgame if he believes there is nothing wrong with the officiating because TV ratings are high.

  Stern lied.

  He also said that they have a system in place where every play, every call and every non-call from every game is reviewed. The refs get feedback and they're graded based on those reviews. People can argue about whether the refs are bad, about whether certain players or certain teams are favored but it's hard to argue that the calls that were made weren't the types of calls Stern wanted.

[Finkelskyhook]

  I'd say the officiating is no worse than last year or the year before.

Yeah, but it's no better either and Stern promised better, more credible and more honest officiating after the Donaghy scandal and after naming his General friend head of officiating. He is living in a vaccuum and is oblivious to the damage his refs are doing to the integrity of hisgame if he believes there is nothing wrong with the officiating because TV ratings are high.

  Stern lied.

  He also said that they have a system in place where every play, every call and every non-call from every game is reviewed. The refs get feedback and they're graded based on those reviews. People can argue about whether the refs are bad, about whether certain players or certain teams are favored but it's hard to argue that the calls that were made weren't the types of calls Stern wanted.

That much is obvious.  Stern's team and Stern's binky are not in the Finals.

[crownsy]

  I'd say the officiating is no worse than last year or the year before.

Yeah, but it's no better either and Stern promised better, more credible and more honest officiating after the Donaghy scandal and after naming his General friend head of officiating. He is living in a vaccuum and is oblivious to the damage his refs are doing to the integrity of hisgame if he believes there is nothing wrong with the officiating because TV ratings are high.

  Stern lied.

  He also said that they have a system in place where every play, every call and every non-call from every game is reviewed. The refs get feedback and they're graded based on those reviews. People can argue about whether the refs are bad, about whether certain players or certain teams are favored but it's hard to argue that the calls that were made weren't the types of calls Stern wanted.

That much is obvious.  Stern's team and Stern's binky are not in the Finals.

But i was assured the fix was in! how could this have happened!

[cordobes]

He also said that they have a system in place where every play, every call and every non-call from every game is reviewed. The refs get feedback and they're graded based on those reviews.

True. I'm always appalled when people say that the refs aren't hold accountable or punished by their errors. It's simply untrue. Teams can ask the league to review every single call and refs are going up and down in the ranks accordingly to their performances.

[hpantazo]

He also said that they have a system in place where every play, every call and every non-call from every game is reviewed. The refs get feedback and they're graded based on those reviews.

True. I'm always appalled when people say that the refs aren't hold accountable or punished by their errors. It's simply untrue. Teams can ask the league to review every single call and refs are going up and down in the ranks accordingly to their performances.

why are you appalled? How do you know they really are held accountable? Because Stern said so?

[cordobes]

He also said that they have a system in place where every play, every call and every non-call from every game is reviewed. The refs get feedback and they're graded based on those reviews.

True. I'm always appalled when people say that the refs aren't hold accountable or punished by their errors. It's simply untrue. Teams can ask the league to review every single call and refs are going up and down in the ranks accordingly to their performances.

why are you appalled? How do you know they really are held accountable? Because Stern said so?

No, merely by checking the nominations.

[guava_wrench]

I'm not sure how Stern can reply. I feel the refs are fine, but there is a serious PR problem. Fans tend to be very poor judges of calls. This is obvious from the quick reactions of many fans on plays they couldn't really see. We can expect fans to not like calls against their team and to be upset. The bigger problem is the bias we see from fans.

While there are many blown calls in games, this will always be the case due to the importance of judgment calls in the flow of NBA games. A football series might require refs to do little more than spot balls and call plays dead. When holding is missed at the line of scrimmage, it won't get much camera time. Players also don't get the chance to whine for the camera in football since they can't stop playing to protest. In basketball, players wave their arms around crying as the other team pushes the ball up the court.

Stern tried to rein in the complaining, which made sense since perception is the core problem. But watching lots of Ts being called isn't fun. It's a tough situation.

[jdpapa3]

The main issues I have are: the age of the referees and the "bad blood" assignments. I am talking about the Bill Kennedy to Doc playoff games, Crawford to the spurs, etc., superstar calls, assignments of refs with a ridiculous home or away record to must win games.

[Finkelskyhook]

Fans tend to be very poor judges of calls. This is obvious from the quick reactions of many fans on plays they couldn't really see. We can expect fans to not like calls against their team and to be upset. The bigger problem is the bias we see from fans.

Fans may be a poor judge of calls, but most commentators, particularly former coaches who have no dog in the fight, aren't.  When something like the ridiculously clean block on the messiah by Howard is called a foul in crunch time, with the official facing the play in perfect position in every angle of the replay, the bias is glaring.  When the messiah can demonstrably protest every single call without getting a tech and Perk can get one for staring at the official, the bias is glaring to even the casual fan.  When commentators chuckle about obvious travels, carrys, and phantom fouls, people should wonder.  When Jeff VanGundy slips and speaks his mind about the bias during a national broadcast, Stern has to cringe.  But until the product isn't bought by the paying public, Stern has no issues with credibility.  The product sells.....Keep up what you're doing. 

[dark_lord]

i voted hell no for the following reasons:

1.  its too political.  why would a superstar get a call that a 12th man or rookie wouldnt?  i foul/call should be the same for everyone, regardless of status, seniority, or abilities.

2.  too many make up calls.  it is a common trend that team fouls will be in close proximity, but there is a big difference in the free throw attempts. what that says is that a cheap "ticky tack" foul is made in an attempt to be a make up. 

3. they are unable to tell the difference between a flop and a real play.  the nba was supposedly going to improve on this trend that kills the game, but has yet to do so.  instead, they reward the flopper and has made the game full of whiney flop artists.

4.  they arent allowed to be criticized publically without a player, coach, representative being fined.

5.  donoughy (spelling?).....to think that bc he is out of the league and that there isnt any residual effects of negative actions/behaviors/decision making, is ignorant.

[QuinielaBox]

Some areas of the game they have cleaned up and other rule enforcement issues have opportunities for improvement.

The Good - I like that block/charge circle to streamline the block/charge calls. I also like the fact that three point shots and buzzer beaters are subject to TV replay review.

The Bad - We do not get consistent enforcement on traveling, double dribbles, illegal picks, hand checking, and touch fouls. The rebounding action leaves much to be desired in how much contact is allowed. The three second violations and illegal defense are a real sore spot. Judgement on flagrant fouls needs review to say the least.

I would say, no I am not satisfied with the refereeing.

[silvershamrocker]

Here's an idea:

Why don't they let each coach get the chance to challenge one call a game like they do in football? Then the refs would have to look at it on the replay screen and change it if necessary.

[slamtheking]

He also said that they have a system in place where every play, every call and every non-call from every game is reviewed. The refs get feedback and they're graded based on those reviews.

True. I'm always appalled when people say that the refs aren't hold accountable or punished by their errors. It's simply untrue. Teams can ask the league to review every single call and refs are going up and down in the ranks accordingly to their performances.

why are you appalled? How do you know they really are held accountable? Because Stern said so?

No, merely by checking the nominations.

Nominations for what?  Most incompetent referee? 

If you're referring to nominations for playoff games then I have to disagree.  Looking at the roster of refs calling those games is like reading a list of the high-profile problem referees.  Not all of them are problems but many would make the "least credible" list. 
It's not a coincidence that if you ask fans of the game (not the casual fan that knows Kobe, Lebron and no one else) who they think are the problem referees, they'll tend to come up with the same group of names.