I heard a little while ago that the NBA had issued an apology for the bad call on the shot clock violation that really shouldn't have been in the Lakers-Nuggets(?) game.
The only thing strange about the shot clock violation is that they do not routinely reset the clock when (insert your favorite superstar's name here) is the one to shoot the airball and thus ignore the violation like they do all other violations. Kobe drove the lane early in the game tonight and put in a nice shot with the left hand after an obvious foot shuffle which was noted both before and after the replay, much to no one's surprise. Earlier this week I heard an announcer note (happily?) how Lebron James was becoming a member of the no-call club. Highlight: Drive, hesitate, CARRY, penetrate into the lane, pivot, TRAVEL, finger roll, score. The skills of these players are certainly to be admired, but would they be less admirable if they were forced to play somewhat within the rules. The way I see it, the "tolerance" on violations has now trickled down through college and has a good foothold in high school, particularly in the bigger schools. And if all this was not enough, this fiasco Streetball on
ESPN adds even more fuel to the fire. Makes it much more difficult to explain to some 12 year old why the move that he practiced all week is very illegal.

YAAAWWNNN.....

Do you think that the NBA referees are purposefully not calling violations on fouls on certain players because they are stars?

We are all officials -- why do some high school and college officials berate those at the professional level. They devote more time and effort to their profession in a year than most do in their lifetimes.

In response to the first post on here, I agree. Young impressionable players watch the NBA and assume hey Shaq can take five steps and score, why can't I. Or AI carries the ball but never gets called for it. I can not watch an NBA game anymore because it's not real basketball, it's pure entertainment. These players are not as fundamentally sound as they use to be and I feel the officiating has gotten awful to where calls are determined by who you are. I feel that you folks on here would do a much better job in the NBA officiating, but because you would probably treat all the NBA players the same you wouldnt last long, but hey at least you folks on here have standards.

Does this surprise anyone? :(

These players are not as fundamentally sound as they use to be and I feel the officiating has gotten awful to where calls are determined by who you are. I feel that you folks on here would do a much better job in the NBA officiating, but because you would probably treat all the NBA players the same you wouldnt last long, but hey at least you folks on here have standards.

BktBallRef read the whole post I was not talking about you folks on this board but my opinion of NBA officials I even talked highly of you folks if you would read it.

You're not convincing anyone. You have an incredibly low opinion of all officials.

BktBall Ref
 

Ok,

Please point out to me in my post where I said something that was insulting about anyone on this board. I'm surprised I try to make a post that is positive and agrees with what another member posted and I still get whacked for it. It almost seems like Bktball ref your looking for something with me. If anyone else takes offense to my post my apologies, but could you please tell me why you do. Thank you very much

The NBA refs are the best basketball officials in the world. It's that simple. If you like to believe that they give preference to certain players--you are simply wrong. Obviously they make mistakes. Of course, they deal with players who are bigger, faster, and stronger than you can possibly imagin. And these officials devote more time and passion to officiating than anyone and are professionals whose integrity is beyond reproach. And yes, the NBA rules are different than they are in high school and college, which is why someone might think that certain plays are fouls or traveling violations. For example, when was the last time you saw an NBA coach complain about a travel? I think the interpretation of a travel is fairly well understood in the NBA.

Re: BktBall Ref
 

BBallCoach -- The party line on this board regarding the NBA is that whether or not we agree with NBA rules and interps, the refs are the best in the world and earn deserve the respect of the rest of us. Some of us privately disagree about whether certain stars get preferential treatment, but we understand that if the NBA refs do give that treatment, it's only because they are instructed to do so, and that they are fair and consistent in how they do that. In other words, they are really high quality refs that are doing the best job possible in carrying out the rules and interps that they are responsible for. But that doesn't mean that we like or enjoy the NBA. It's just that we know the refs are terrific, even if we never want to be one of them.

There shouldn't even be a discussion. The idea that some NBA officials give star players preferential treatment was dreamed up by a bunch of bitter 300 lb sports writers with nothing to talk about.

Let's face it, this is just about perception. What official has NOT been accused of cheating?!? I've had fans say that I must be from the other school's town, or I'm racist, homering, etc., etc. That doens't make it true.

How can officials at the high school and college level critique those working in the NBA -- let alone coaches and players?!? Do you really think that you have more officiating knowledge than the 60-odd NBA referees that sit through training meetings with Ed Rush and other past NBA officials, who watch and "break down" videotape of their games, who are critiqued at each and every game that they officiate?

Personally, I don't think that the NBA officials DON'T call traveling -- I think it's the other way around -- most high school and some college officials call traveling on plays that aren't even close.

If you've never blown a whistle you really have no idea what it's like to be out there making split-second decisions. And if you have only officiated high school you have NO idea how fast and good these players are.

Jont and Juulie have it right -- we need to stick together on this and not criticize each other. If instead of trying to learn from the best and getting better you would rather sit and criticize, you will always be "just another ref" ;)

The point of this thread was not to criticize the officiating, but I found it interesting that the NBA thought this mistake worthy of an apology. Now I see that an official has been suspended for it. Seems harsh to me.

I worked some high school games this season where partners whistle traveling in or near my primary where I wonder:

(1) Why the he11 was he looking there?

and

(2) How can there be a travel when the pivot foot doesn't move?

I'm with Brad, I think there's too much traveling called by officials who don't understand the rule.

Re: BktBall Ref
 

Ugh!
Coach, you impugned (that means maligned) the integrity of NBA officials, saying they play favorites. You don't know if anyone on this board happens to be an NBA ref. Beyond that, you need not insult a member of this board to draw the ire of some officials. We couldn't care less if the officials in question are on this board, for one. Officials are officials, and we all take exception to any insinuation of systemic impropriety.

Adam

lighten up
 

Interesting thread.

Here's my opinion.

Ever since we were wee-referee's, we have been trained to do everything by the book. This eliminates alot of gray area, but games would take as long as a baseball game. This also reduces the career of officials, because the powers that be don't appreciate the game being stopped on every possession.

As we move along the path of referee life, we are then encouraged to make decisions using advantage/disadvantage. This is when we let some of the traveling violations go when 'little Johnny/Suzie' shuffles their feet at the top of the key with no real defensive pressure. Rather than call this minor transgression, we play on.

There is a book (the title escapes me) out there written by Earl Strom in which the NBA makes it clear that the people paying the bills don't come to the games to watch the referees call alot of the irrelevant fouls/violations. Given the popularity and money involved, the mandate came down that there is 'star treatment.' Unfortunately, players, fans, and coaches have picked up on this and consider themselves 'equals.' Here lies the problem.

I cannot watch NBA games for various reason, but the biggest is that you can pretty much script every game, with the results in doubt until the last 4 minutes of the game.

Hope you all enjoyed my ramblings.

BBallCoach, I appreciate your attempt to find more constructive ways to particpate in this forum. For me, your slate is clean.

Re: BktBall Ref
 

A leopard can't change his spots.

BTW, Brad is correct in his post. The NBA is a different game and it's officiated differently. The NBA officals are the best basketball officials in the world. Most outside the NBA game have no clue as to the many things they do during a game. There's a reason for everything they call and for everything they don't call. Different game, different officiating. If you don't like the game, fine. But don't blame the officials.

And this is VERY true. I spent the evening at the Rockets/Trailblazers game here in Houston with an NBA observer. Very intriquing. They've got a totally different style of play, thus a different style to officiating. It was an eye opening experince.

Apparently the officials aren't too happy with the league office. It's not too often that they do something as openly confrontational as this:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1746204

Thanks, JR.
I was wonderin'.
mick

I saw the story on TV this morning. The article was interesting too. It's unclear where the suspension came from. I'm wondering if it came from Ronnie Nunn or from the administrative side of the league office (in other words, the same guy who hands out suspensions to players for fighting, etc.).

The most disturbing part of the article is the accusation that Nunn personally threatened to fire two officials if they participated in the protest. After meeting Ronnie this summer, I find that really hard to believe. He is a straight-talker, no question; but that kind of conduct doesn't seem like the guy I met, albeit briefly.

The suspension seems excessive to me, unless there are other circumstances that we don't know about. The protest does not seem unreasonable to me. Not a good situation.

Especially since the officials are in the last year of their collective bargaining agreement.

I give the nba officials all kinds of credit for standing up for a second year official and putting themselves in a spot where they could get punished.I don't understand how they officiate but I know they are the best.

Theres a little bit more to the story from what I understand which wasn't a whole lot. It didnt look to terrible in-person or on TV other than you could see the stitch marks and not everyones 62 looked as good as Mike Callahans. LOL. I will say that despite the whole jesery thing these guys conducted themselves proffesionally and according to the NBA. THey made there statement but still did their jobs. NBA officials are held accountable than most of us ever will be unless we get to the level of the NBA. Last night was a great look at that. The conversation between the observer and I was somewhat choppy becasue he was taking notes the whole game but when we did get to talk it was VERY informative.

The NBA may not have the best players (that goes to collegiate) but hands down they have the best officials once you look at what goes into their officiating department/etc.

JA