Officiate or keep score

[ChuckElias]

Generally, I agree that it doesn't hurt to know the game situation, if you can do it and still keep focus on the calls you need to make. I think Rut overstated his case a little, but that's a matter of opinion. I don't think it's necessary to know every aspect of the game situation at all times. Although, as I said, if you can do it and still focus on the action, then more power to ya.

The only thing I take issue with in physicref's post is the following:

Originally posted by physicsref
2. Whatever happened to advantage/disadvantage? [snip] What about the slight illegal contact on a rebound that doesn't affect the play?

The contact that doesn't affect the play is not illegal, generally. A slight bump that puts no one at a disadvantage (and how could it, since as stated, it doesn't affect the play?) is not a foul. So the comment seems to me to be more or less irrelevant to the discussion at hand. I don't think that is the kind of call that we've been talking about in this thread.

I think the "cheap" fouls that we've been talking about occur in situations where:

1) there is contact
2) the contact affects the opponent
3) but the opponent is able to continue playing without significant trouble (e.g., a turnover, falling to the floor, etc.).

I called one of these "cheapies" last night and kicked myself for it in the locker room. Was it an illegal screen? Yes. Did it put the defender at a disadvantage? Probably. Should I have called it in the closing minute of a 15 point game? Not a chance. (Have I taken to answering my own questions? Apparently.)

If this had been the player's fifth foul, I would have felt bad -- worse, I should say -- about calling it.

Chuck