Great thoughts everybody, thanks! Ace, I was always told that the lead should NEVER watch the ball on the rim. You have too much happening with players in front of you. Just my $0.02.

And the Lead would have to avert his/her eyes from the mass of bodies to the rim for a once-in-a-game (at most) call. I'd rather monitor the contact and take a chance on missing a few BI calls. It seems to be better game management to have the C or T get the BI for that reason alone.

Half the time I'm not even sure the ball went in, except by the reaction of the players, when the shot came from the paint or there's any significant rebound positioning going on.

Snaqwells,
I guess a little more clarification on my part would help too. I don't disagree with what you said, however a better way to phrase what I meant might be this. The officials may not be as critical or discerning as to whether it was out of the cylinder or not if the offense is the instigator. If it is the defense you may try harder to discern the placement of the ball when it was contacted. Again that is just a gut feeling I have. Officials sure seem a lot quicker to go get a defensive BI, that may have a questionable ball location, than they are offensive BI...

Probably a subconscious thing. We're used to seeing the offensive rebounder come in and slam home a rebound. It looks natural and "okay." When a defender comes in and takes it away, we're more trained (from experience, not rules) to see that as wrong.

Ehhhhhh.

I'm not a fan of the lead getting BI's - first off, he's looking up at the ball, not down at the bodies. Second, it's not a good angle from which to make the call and you often have bodies or even a backboard in the way.

Also, you need to have a darn good pre-game for the C to take over rebounding coverage.

yep that is a good point too...