Should the NBA add another referee?

[GreenEnvy]

Atleast for the Playoffs.

With a new CBA on the way (eventually), I'd like to see a fourth ref added for playoff games. It seems like every series has fans eventually up in arms over something about the officiating, sometimes BOTH teams are upset.

Let's face it, it is a fast game with many moving parts. It's difficult to watch a guys feet, his hands, the defender, etc. all at the same time. It's not an easy job.

The officiating has gotten worse over the years because of the players getting quicker and stronger than ever.

Adding two more eyes can only help IMO. Throw in additional replays for stuff like goaltending and out-of-bounds calls (besides the last two minutes of a game).

There are at most 4 games going on per day, whereas the NBA can have 13+ on a given Wednesday/Friday during the season. They have more than enough to pick from.

Whatever happens, they need to address officiating in some capacity over the negotiations.

[CelticsWhat35]

I think for the most part, fans are usually more upset about what does get called, rather than what doesn't.  So an extra ref wouldn't help that situation.

I'm assuming this thread is more in response to the horrible miss in the Thunder-Nuggets game, but the truth is, they only needed one ref on the court to make that call.  It was just a bad miss.

We don't need refs to control games any more than they already do.  Although on the other hand, maybe with 4 refs, they wouldn't guess as much, and "assume" certain things happen when they don't actually see it.  I'm starting to come around now. 

[Who]

I'd like to see them add one referee who is off the court who solely monitors time violations like defensive three seconds, three in the key, 8 seconds to get the ball over halfcourt.

Let the on court officials concentrate on actual fouls. Free them up.

[housecall]

The NBA refs problems has more to do with competency(lack of)and less to do with numbers in my opinion.

[Finkelskyhook]

I'd like to see them add one referee who is off the court who solely monitors time violations like defensive three seconds, three in the key, 8 seconds to get the ball over halfcourt.

Let the on court officials concentrate on actual fouls. Free them up.

I would be happy if the officials concentrated on actual rules in the rulebook.  Regardless of situation.

[GreenEnvy]

I think for the most part, fans are usually more upset about what does get called, rather than what doesn't.  So an extra ref wouldn't help that situation.

I'm assuming this thread is more in response to the horrible miss in the Thunder-Nuggets game, but the truth is, they only needed one ref on the court to make that call.  It was just a bad miss.

We don't need refs to control games any more than they already do.  Although on the other hand, maybe with 4 refs, they wouldn't guess as much, and "assume" certain things happen when they don't actually see it.  I'm starting to come around now. 

It has little to do with any one game or play in particular.

Denver has a gripe because of that one huge NON-call. The FT disparity in the Dallas game was alarming. And Rose lives at the line now. I haven't watch enough of those games to comment on how good/bad of a job is being done, but it shouldn't even be a debate.

I live in NYC. All everyone is talking about is the 'Melo foul and the Garnett no-call. I know, sour grapes. But even Kevin McHale(!) came on a a NYC radio station this morning and said those were questionable calls.

As Who mentioned, a ref whose primary function can watch the lane violations, which there are numerous missed calls per game. Then there are the offensive fouls that 'Melo got called for that happen a dozen times a game when jockeying for position and don't get a whistle.

[GreenEnvy]

The NBA refs problems has more to do with competency than numbers in my opinion.

That's a copout.

It's easy to say they are incompetent. But maybe the game is just to difficult to officiate the way it is played. There are so many rules/violations for 3 sets of eyes to look out for at the same time.

Believe it or not, these guys are probably the best basketball refs out there.

[Finkelskyhook]

The NBA refs problems has more to do with competency than numbers in my opinion.

That's a copout.

It's easy to say they are incompetent. But maybe the game is just to difficult to officiate the way it is played. There are so many rules/violations for 3 sets of eyes to look out for at the same time.

Believe it or not, these guys are probably the best basketball refs out there.

+1

I can't imagine Mendy Rudolph watching the messiah take 4 steps and not call traveling every time.  But somehow our current officials can see the same thing and not call it every time. 

Today's officials are extremely competent and efficient.  Their situational prowess is spot-on.  They can miss a carry every time with Los Nash, Rose, and Wade and call it correctly every time according to the rulebook with everybody else. 

Difference is that pre-Jordan, everybody played by the same NBA rules.  Now there are 3 sets of rules. 

Adding another official doesn't fix that.

[MBz]

I'd like to see them add one referee who is off the court who solely monitors time violations like defensive three seconds, three in the key, 8 seconds to get the ball over halfcourt.

Let the on court officials concentrate on actual fouls. Free them up.

Yes I was just going to say something similar.  Then come say the final 2 minutes of the game, it could be this official who is in charge of potential replays.

[KungPoweChicken]

I don't know if the NBA would ever do it. But if it would help the game be called more consistently, I would definitely be in favor of it. On a related issue, how about having a referee upstairs for making the decision on plays that are being reviewed? Is there anything worse than being in a heated game, with only a minute or two left, and have to watch the on court refs fiddle and doodle on the monitor for ten minutes? Having a guy upstairs make the call would make everything go a lot more smoother.


I didn't read this thread when I made my post. But I just read it and see that some people have already discussed this issue. That's why I love Celticsblog!

[Finkelskyhook]

I don't know if the NBA would ever do it. But if it would help the game be called more consistently, I would definitely be in favor of it. On a related issue, how about having a referee upstairs for making the decision on plays that are being reviewed? Is there anything worse than being in a heated game, with only a minute or two left, and have to watch the on court refs fiddle and doodle on the monitor for ten minutes? Having a guy upstairs make the call would make everything go a lot more smoother.


I didn't read this thread when I made my post. But I just read it and see that some people have already discussed this issue. That's why I love Celticsblog!

Great idea. Just wondering which rulebook does the upstairs official use?  Because under current officiating there are three different possible outcomes....Based solely on the participants....On virtually every critical play. 

The reality is that the missed Perkins goaltend is an aberration.  The officials rarely get it wrong according to the way it appears they're supposed to officiate.

Nothing will help until the rules

[mgent]

Add a ref?  We should be getting rid of them all.  Hire CYO refs or something.

[fairweatherfan]

The NBA refs problems has more to do with competency than numbers in my opinion.

That's a copout.

It's easy to say they are incompetent. But maybe the game is just to difficult to officiate the way it is played. There are so many rules/violations for 3 sets of eyes to look out for at the same time.

Believe it or not, these guys are probably the best basketball refs out there.

I agree; while the officiating quality often leaves much to be desired, what gets neglected is the fact that basketball, especially with today's big, fast, and savvy players, is really freaking hard to officiate.  There's so much going on at once and so much subjectivity in a lot of calls that every game will have some obvious mistakes and many, many more judgment calls that will anger whichever fan base they go against.

That said there's always room for improvement, and the current refs have some major issues with consistency and endgame calls like the Perk non-call the other night.  But the idea that you could just plug any old yahoos in there and magically see the officiating get much better is a foolish one.

[Finkelskyhook]

I agree; while the officiating quality often leaves much to be desired, what gets neglected is the fact that basketball, especially with today's big, fast, and savvy players, is really freaking hard to officiate.

That's a bigger copout than the competency argument.

You're telling me the messiah moves so fast that three of the world's best trained basketball officials simultaneously can't see him take 3-4 steps?

You're telling me that Wade, Rose, and Los Nash are so lightning quick on that initial dribble that three of the best trained basketball officials in the world can't see them palm the ball right in front of them at the same time?

You can have 10 officials on the court and 10 in the booth and you won't fix the problem until the stars stop getting protected by the officials.  Our's included.

It's not the speed of the game, folks.  It's not the competence of the officials, folks.   

Sad part is that the game would be infinately better if there was only one rulebook.  Jordan would have been a better player without the Jordan rules.  He'd have adjusted his game to stay on the court.  Today's stars would improve their games if they had to follow the same rules. 

[dark_lord]

for the love of god....no!  sometimes less is more (this goes for the amount of refs and also not blowing the whistle so much)