I didn't think releasing the officiating reports was going to be a good thing but the reception has been better than I thought. I thought it would be a big deal and fans would be ripping the NBA but the general response has been "meh, calls get missed." Looks like a big positive for the NBA so far. We'll see how it goes in the playoffs though.

Smile, You're On Candid Camera ...
 

I observed two of my friends working a state tournament game a few nights ago. Lead official was watching two players, A1, and B1, contesting a rebound. B1 has good inside position. A1 bumps B1 trying to get the rebound. Both players reach for the ball and the ball goes out of bounds off B1's fingers. Lead calls out of bounds on A1 and gives the ball to B for a throwin.

This is an "old school" call, the Lead figuring that giving the ball to B makes up for not calling the pushing foul on A1. Thirty-plus years ago, this was considered the "correct" compromise call.

We can't do this anymore. With most games being taped, and with almost everyone in the bleachers having a video recorder in their cell phone, we can't get away with this anymore.

We have to fish, or cut bait. Either call the pushing foul on A1, or call the push incidental, and correctly call the out of bounds off of B1, and give the ball to A for a throwin. In my opinion, a third choice (getting out of the boat) no longer exists.