Screens-NBA POE

[The_Rookie]

The other point of emphasis this season: illegal screens. Teams that feel officials have wronged them can upload video clips of allegedly incorrect calls, or incorrect non-calls, onto a private league website. Illegal screens are by far the most common type of uploaded clip, says Mike Bantom, the NBA’s executive vice-president in charge of referee operations. And so the league is promising to crackdown on illegal screens this season, again.

Screens are boring. They don't involve the ball, at least not directly, and most of the exciting stuff involves the ball. We naturally watch the ball, and monitoring everything that happens away from the ball requires continuous training and diligence.

But screens, both on and off the ball, are a crucial part of the game. Baseline screens free cutters and curling shooters. Cross screens under the rim give big men space to post up. And perhaps most importantly, screens for point guards on high pick-and-rolls free those exciting little guys to get into the lane and do all sorts of fun things. If offense is fun, and fans like fun, enabling illegal screens to at least some degree is a good thing.

[Raymond]

Ok.

[APG]

You should probably point out and credit the quote from the Grantland author, Zach Lowe...and yes, illegal screens are one of the POE's for the NBA this year.

Also, this should probably tell you how much officiating acumen the author has:

But here's the interesting thing about the elbows-and-feet enforcement: If a defender does manage to dodge a screener standing with feet spread wide or elbows jutting out, the referees are not supposed to call a foul, the league says. In other words: Do your best Garnett or Glen Davis, plant your feet as far apart as possible, and you're going to get off scot-free if the defender gets around you without running into one of those body parts.

This strikes me as weird. It almost punishes defenders for being agile. Why does the presence or absence of contact define whether an offensive foul has occurred? Shouldn't the stance itself determine the legality of a pick? If I try to run you over with my car and you leap out of the way, the police can still charge me with something.

[The_Rookie]

Also, this should probably tell you how much officiating acumen the author has:[/QUOTE]

This raises an interesting issue..Outside of Mike Perria on Fox who is the football rules analyst and tries to educate the fans...who for basketball serves that role??

[Raymond]

Joe Borgia on NBA TV, before him, Ronnie Nunn.

During the NCAA Tournament, John Adams.

[APG]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

Joe Borgia on NBA TV, before him, Ronnie Nunn.

During the NCAA Tournament, John Adams.

In addition, ESPN added Steve Javie two years ago I believe, and he's usually seen during playoff time. NBA TV had a segment with Bob Delaney last year during the playoffs as well.