New Zero-Tolerance policy

[shadowgrin]

Gary Payton would be affected by this too.

I think 'Sheed is back on the weed.

He's not back on weed. He has always been on weed, with his guaran-sheeds.

[[Q]]

Gary Payton would be affected by this too.

I think he has to be the first in Finals history to cause a turnover by complaining to the ref.

[Zoom]

4 ejections in 3 days... Guess the NBA really wants to show that superstars don't get preferential treatment...

Seems a bit harsh with how the refs are giving out techs and ejecting players but a rule is a rule and they did agree to no tolerence.

I guess there are some things that could be changed like:

- Players need to get a first warning at least
- Some things should be allowed to be done/said... sometimes putting your hands up and making a smartass remark is just due to reflexes and instinct

Most importantly, I feel what Sheed and Melo did weren't warranting of an ejection.. I havent seen Bibby and Mo Taylor getting thrown out so I wouldn't know what they did. The Legaue should look at these ejections/techs and make sure that it is all consistent with what they are doing.

I guess the rule makes sense but perhaps it is still a bit harsh... players need to bottle up their emotion even more.

I still thnik it's classic how Sheed was thrown out After all, some people call it the Rahseed Wallace Rule.

[Christopherson]

I read about how Robert Horry worked out a system with the officials where he had a hand signal to ask whether it was ok to talk to the official. He would give the signal, and the refs would nod their head indicating if it was ok to come over and talk. I think this is an excellent system that more players should adopt.

[Zoom]

Maybe they should have a rule where team captains are allowed to talk to the ref.

[Ruff Ryder]

I read about how Robert Horry worked out a system with the officials where he had a hand signal to ask whether it was ok to talk to the official. He would give the signal, and the refs would nod their head indicating if it was ok to come over and talk. I think this is an excellent system that more players should adopt.

Complaining about calls in sign-language! Brilliant idea!

[MaD_hAND1e]

I read about how Robert Horry worked out a system with the officials where he had a hand signal to ask whether it was ok to talk to the official. He would give the signal, and the refs would nod their head indicating if it was ok to come over and talk. I think this is an excellent system that more players should adopt.

Complaining about calls in sign-language! Brilliant idea!

It's not really complaining as such... because when players complain... they decide when to talk to the officials, but Robert Horry's way is where the refs hold the power to decide.

[Ruff Ryder]

Yea I know, I was being sarcastic. It's a pretty good idea though. But imagine Rasheed trying to get away with that. The ref's would never let him and then he would give them the infamous stare down that gets him Ts for no reason.

[koberulz]

they do seem a little tight on it. the nocioni T against the heat really wasn't that warranted, nor was the Tyrus Thomas one.

[Laxation]

Im gonna repeat what I said somewhere else...


After watching a few games this season, its clear that the new rule is complete bullshit.

I would be fine with it, if it was consistent. But seeing Nocioni get teched for shrugging his shoulders and saying something like "What?" in the opener, and then in the Spurs games, Duncan would be shown after at least 4 calls arguing with the ref.

There is no fucking way that Sheed (amongst others) is going to get treated like the rest of the NBA - and for that, this rule is complete bullshit


Heres some interesting quotes to add...

Rasheed Wallace watched the Spurs-Mavericks game with high interest Thursday night. "Yeah, I watched that game," he said. "I didn't see no technical fouls given out there and I seen Tim Duncan do a lot of pointing and stuff like I did. All it is, is discrimination." Wallace, after holding his tongue for a day, finally had his say on his ejection from the season-opening loss to the Bucks on Wednesday. He was the first victim of the league's no-tolerance policy regarding disputes with referees. "In my opinion, it's really (garbage)," he said. "It's just given (referees) more power than what a majority of them can handle."

"I saw [Thursday] night with Carmelo [Anthony]. I thought they overreacted. It was crazy to see Carmelo kicked out, especially with the NBA really promoting Carmelo, Dwyane Wade, and LeBron [James]. It's a nationally televised game and Carmelo gets kicked out. I think the refs have to use better judgment with that. Then again, it's their call."

So basically, kick out Sheed, but not the posterboys... Isnt the NBA fun

[Zoom]

Rasheed Wallace was actually holding back in the season opener. He shrugged his shoulders after a play and got ejected i believe. The NBA needs to review their techs and tell their refs what they expect of them... it has to be consistent. I still say that the captains of teams should be allowed to talk to the refs. And the refs need to make better judgements.

[Laxation]

You all seen what I did," Wallace said. "I said, 'Oh!' on the first tech because it was a good block. Then on the second one, the dude (Bucks forward Charlie Villanueva) threw an elbow and I told the other two refs that I ain't going to be going for that. I can deal with losing. "I can deal with having a bad game and I can deal with shooting woes. But I can't deal with no dirty play and no cheating. "Then I told that to Lou Grillo, and he said something back and I said, 'I am just letting everyone know,' and that's when they gave me that second tech and threw me out."

Hes got no hope of playing 60 full games this year

[Zoom]

I don't get the first tech then... there was no malice on his part, he wasn't arguing with the ref... just getting the crowd in the game...

[Laxation]

He's Sheed, he will be discriminated against with this rule. There is no fucking way in hell he will get away with even the slightest display of disappointment after a call.

[-Young Buck-]

I love it personally. I get sick of guys complaining to the refs about calls. They can still talk to the ref if they want.

[Laxation]

I love it personally. I get sick of guys complaining to the refs about calls. They can still talk to the ref if they want.

Nocioni couldnt. Sheed wont be able to. Duncan will be able to.

What a fantastic rule

[Matt]

Sheed tech count: 3

[Null17]

I think it's getting a little overboard sometimes. The situation was bad without this rule but it turned to a complete 180 with the refs becoming big pussies all of a sudden.

[koberulz]

the other thing is the line between disappointment/anger with self, and actually disputing the call.

i saw an NBL game last year where one guy was called for reaching in on a dribbler in the back court. he yelled "AARGH!" and punched the air in an angry fashion. the refs let it go, as it appeared more like he was angry at himself for fouling, rather than the ref for calling it. i didn't see the rasheed situation, but it sounds a similar thing.

[threatlockz]

i think the rule is awful, they're sucking all of the emotion out of the game.

[Null17]

yeah, at times, the emotions aren't even directed at the refs but they still slap a tech on the player.

[[Q]]

to go with the bad-boy theory, interesting to see Ron Artest not getting too many personal & technical fouls... but then again, he never really picked up too many fouls in his career.

[Andrew]

I've seen three games so far this season and there's been an example of the new zero tolerance policy in each of them. So far, it's been a joke.

In the Bulls/Heat opener Nocioni and Wade were whistled for technicals for the slightest gestures while Gary Payton was involved in a somewhat animated discussion with a referee and was not penalised. Similarly, in the Cavs/Spurs game Robert Horry was visibly upset and complaining after a call long after the whistle was blown yet no call was made.

Francisco Elson let out a roar of satisfaction (for lack of a better description) after a dunk in the Mavs/Spurs game and was whistled for a technical because he was supposed to have roared in Eric Dampier's face. An extremely petty call and one that contradicts the NBA's claims that they're not trying to suck the emotion out of the game.

So far, the referees seem to be making either an extremely petty call or a case of pocketing the whistle which serves to make the technicals that are assessed look all the more petty. At the end of the day, it's been counter-productive to what the NBA was trying to achieve with the change in policy. It certainly doesn't speed up the game when it's being stopped more often over petty nonsense.

The difference in opinion of analysts and broadcasters is interesting as well. Both Marv Albert and Steve Kerr have questioned the quick technicals in the two TNT games I watched this week while ESPN's team spoke in favour of the change, going so far as to say the calls that were being made were ones that should have been made in the past and that it's a great move by the league.

Hubie Brown may have had the most humourous comment on the situation when he said that the league was trying to eliminate the "overreaction after bad calls" or words to that effect. Seems to me they should be also thinking about finding a way to cut down on bad calls as well but perhaps the league feels sketchy calls are fine so long as everyone smiles and plays on.

The suggestion is that the players will get used to it, the referees might get a better feel for it, they'll find a happy medium and things will get back to normal. Even so, the change is sure to drain emotion from the game especially if players are T'd up for daring to get pumped up after a huge dunk or spectacular play. Can you imagine this approach in the 90s? Charles Barkley wouldn't have lasted to the end of the first quarter.

the other thing is the line between disappointment/anger with self, and actually disputing the call.

i saw an NBL game last year where one guy was called for reaching in on a dribbler in the back court. he yelled "AARGH!" and punched the air in an angry fashion. the refs let it go, as it appeared more like he was angry at himself for fouling, rather than the ref for calling it. i didn't see the rasheed situation, but it sounds a similar thing.

That's the other problem with the zero tolerance policy. It's a natural reaction after making a careless turnover or picking up a couple of quick fouls to show some self-disgust and frustration over making a mistake, particularly in an important game. However, such body language could easily be mistaken as lashing out at the officiating and thus garner a technical.

[Cornerthree]

I actually support this Stern's idea. Tired of players always pretending they haven't done anything(most times).

Of course sometimes reff's make obviously bad calls, and if a player gets a technical for complaining after such a call, it's a minus in this rule...

[Laxation]

The suggestion is that the players will get used to it, the referees might get a better feel for it, they'll find a happy medium and things will get back to normal.

Ive heard this said alot, and I dont know if its just me - being a pistons fan - but does anyone else think it will slow down for most people, but for others the refs will remain tight as a cats asshole?