NBA Referee

[JRutledge]

Why are we so over the top when a situation takes place? If you just T everyone that makes a comment about the "spread" or suggests you are "cheating" then the message will be sent. I likely will not be officiating games where big money is on the line or Vegas have a line on the game. Honestly who cares what people will say? They already think you were cheating in the first place. Actually this might help in the long run because more is talked about how the NBA evaluates games than ever before. Until all the facts are out, this just might bring more light on how good officials are and how hard it is to fix games. This official was not accused of fixing a game to make a team win. How many games are you going to be officiating where the over/under is public knowledge?

Peace

[Mark Dexter]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

Why are we so over the top when a situation takes place? If you just T everyone that makes a comment about the "spread" or suggests you are "cheating" then the message will be sent.

Yup.

Do it already, and the message gets through loud and clear.

I think the biggest games I've worked in my career were a couple of intramural championships (several times) and, in real basketball, the championship game of a local Catholic school league 7th/8th grade. Guarantee that no one was betting on any of them.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by Mark Dexter

Yup.

Do it already, and the message gets through loud and clear.

I think the biggest games I've worked in my career were a couple of intramural championships (several times) and, in real basketball, the championship game of a local Catholic school league 7th/8th grade. Guarantee that no one was betting on any of them.

The fact that no one is betting on a game may not keep those with a stake in the outcome from making the accusation.

[Mark Dexter]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

The fact that no one is betting on a game may not keep those with a stake in the outcome from making the accusation.

The penalty is the same either way - T the first time, trip to the showers if it continues.

[rbmartin]

The real question I have is how could this have gone on for apparently 2 years without someone noticing this referee was manipulating pointspreads and/or outcomes of games? Or, at the least, that he was a lousy referee.

The average fan, of which I am one, might say "How could anyone even tell? Officiating is so inconsistant, particularly in the 4th quarter, that all the referees could be involved and we'd never know."

Does the NBA have a review process similar to what Mike Perini does in the NFL whereby officials are critiqued as to their on court performance?

Publicising this process would be a big step in regaining the average fans' trust.

[Adam]

There have been several threads on this topic since the news broke. I'd encourage you to review them, but the short answer is yes, there is a review process and it's rather extensive and immediate. They get feedback at half-time. Is it perfect? No, obviously.

[JugglingReferee]

Originally Posted by rbmartin

Does the NBA have a review process similar to what Mike Perini does in the NFL whereby officials are critiqued as to their on court performance?

For the future, his name is Mike Pereira.

[FrankHtown]

There was an interview with Brandon Lang..a handicapper. He gave this scenario: Knicks are up by 4 with 10 seconds to play, and they have the ball, just dribbling out the clock. But the point spread is 5. A defender hand checks the dribbler. The referee calls the hand check foul, sending the Knick to the line for 2 free throws. He makes them both....the Knicks beat the spread, and the referee gets an attaboy for calling the foul, which was a point of emphasis....

That is how you take care of the point spread, AND be graded above average as a referee.

[Texas Aggie]

That's exactly what the other posters said.

It is? Oh, I guess you missed this quote:

I can just hear it now - "Hey ref, how much did you have bet on those guys?" "Hey ref - how much did they pay you to beat the spread?", etc.

and this one:

Or, "Hey ref, what's the spread tonight?"

and this one:

This is an issue that will impact every single one of us

Now, would you please point out the poster that said EXACTLY what I said (as you alleged) prior to my saying it. I can't find it.