[ChuckElias]

Originally posted by tomegun
Chuck, I made my comments about running and off-ball because of off-ball calls not about calling out of your primary.

Well, then, I still don't see the connection. There are not many off-ball calls in the NBA, therefore NBA officials can run across the lane. How does that follow? I'm not being sarcastic. I'm just not following you.

There just aren't many off-ball calls in the NBA. I don't think off-ball calls would fit into their entertainment philosophy.

There aren't many off-ball calls in an NCAA game either. I don't have any stats in front of me, but I would think that the ratio of fouls called on the ball to fouls called off the ball would be roughly the same in the NBA and in NCAA. The fact is that there are simply fewer fouls committed off the ball than there are on the ball. It doesn't have anything to do with an "entertainment" philosophy.

But even if the ratio is significantly different between the NBA and NCAA, how does that relate to the ability of officials to run through the lane?

If you see high school and NCAA officials on TV

I do. . .

they are running around leaning and peaking just to look busy.

Hmmmm. Some do, but the vast majority do not. Good officials move their feet, not just their heads, to see the play. There are a few, even on TV, who do the "chicken peek", but not many.

In the NBA I would say 90% of the time they rotate once per 24 second shot clock and that is it. If the ball rotates the slot has it.

I'd love to see the stats you've compiled to support that claim. I have no idea what the percentage of single-rotation possessions is. But I will tell you flat out that if the ball swings, the Lead is rotating. The philosophy in the NBA, as I said before, is to have two officials ball-side whenever possible. It's very rare that they will leave the Slot on the ball-side.

Next time you watch an NBA game, pay attention to the Lead official. Notice how quickly they close down. As soon as the ball goes across the lane line on the Slot's side of the floor, there will be a rotation (unless the Lead feels a shot or drive is imminent, or unless it's the last 24 seconds of the period).

I will stand by my beliefs that we should not go into a game with the philosophy that it's alright to call outside of our area.

It is alright to call outside of your area, but only in unusual and very specific circumstances. As I mentioned before, I think pro supervisors agree with you. They'd rather miss a borderline call than have somebody reach out of their area to get it right. I think most of us here feel the same way.