NBA to use instant replay for fights and flagrants

[Andrew]

NBA allows instant replay to review fights and some flagrant fouls

NEW YORK (AP) -- NBA referees will be able to use instant replay to review altercations and some flagrant fouls starting this season.

The NBA Board of Governors voted last week to approve the changes recommended by the league's Competition Committee.

Officials will be allowed to use replay on the more severe type of flagrant foul, known as the penalty 2. Because a flagrant-2 results in an ejection, the committee ruled that reviewing such infractions was appropriate.

Referees also will be able to use replay after an altercation to ensure that no punches or other unsportsmanlike actions are missed in determining penalties.

Seems like a good idea to me considering the constant criticism of rulings being made despite a lack of an ejection or officials ruling a foul not to be flagrant during the game itself. I suppose subjecting those plays to instant replay will still come under fire with the footage serving to exaggerate the severity of the incident (not unlike the current review process) but the calls at least will be reviewed and an appropriate ruling made during the course of the game rather than punishments being handed out restrospectively.

It might also prevent situations like the one we saw in the Spurs/Suns series. If the referee rules that no one else - in particular players sitting on the bench - was out of line during an on-court incident having reviewed the tape then it would seem there would be no need for further review or disciplinary action.[/quote]

[Sauru]

i still think they should allow each team a coaches challenge or 2 to be used only when they blow they whistle to stop action.

[JT_55]

Finally! But only just for flagrant fouls? I agree with Sauru, the ability for coaches to challenge calls would be nice.

[Fresh8]

I am all for this rule change but not for them to have coaches making a 'challenge' as such... having the game as perfectly officiated as possible would ruin any kind of 'drama' that ensues... I can undertsand flagrants and fights but not for other calls. I'm guess I'm a sucker for controversy in games...

But that's the thing about sport... it's more fun when something goes wrong whether it's to the team you're rooting for or against.

[JT_55]

Well, I'm all for some drama, but the fact that there may still be refs bettting on games would make a challenge system a bit more fair. And the fact that sometimes even with challenges, it's not very clear on the call, so the refs may still have to make a bad call.

[Fresh8]

With the refs betting scandal, there hasn't been anyone else brought out as a cheat ref yet. I trust the league to keep it's officials clean.

And you do notice, the betting that occured was on the points spread... so calls made by the ref were usually on subtle calls. If someone wanted to do that, it wouldn't affect the outcome of the game and the challenge system wouldn't change anything.

I think the league's officials are mostly clean. Perhaps having 'challenges' would be a good thing. But I don't think it's a 'must-add' to the NBA.

[Sauru]

And you do notice, the betting that occured was on the points spread... so calls made by the ref were usually on subtle calls. If someone wanted to do that, it wouldn't affect the outcome of the game and the challenge system wouldn't change anything.

thats not true, just cause the bets were only on the spread does not mean it would not effect the game. for instance, the spurs are favorites over the suns, some jerk bets on the spurs to cover the spread and gets a ref to see to it. now the suns have no chance at all to win that game as the spurs have to win and win by whatever amount of points to cover the spread.

[Andrew]

The idea of coaches being able to officially challenge calls is an interesting one. There's certainly merit in the idea of referees going back and reviewing the tape to see whether a certain player touched the ball last when the ball goes out of bounds on a crucial player with the game in the balance. With all the criticism over officiating the past few years and all the "We would've won if not for (insert referee's name here)" talk, such measures would surely appease a lot of fans...unless of course a decision that benefitted your team is overturned. At the end of the day, not everyone is going to like the call.

[Sauru]

reviews work well in pro football, alot of calls have be overturned that at full speed looked like the right call but after the review it was clearly a bad call. i think the nba should do it also but only on a already stopped play and only give each team a limited amount per game. you could use the same rules as the nfl where if you challenge and you lose then you lose a timeout.