Held Ball Signal Mechanic

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by AremRed

DISCLAIMER: UNPOPULAR/CONTROVERSIAL OPINION INBOUND. THIS OPINION MAY OR MAY NOT BE SUPPORTED BY RULE, BUT FEEL FREE NOT TO POINT THAT OUT.

I like throwing up the stop-clock mechanic before the held ball signal. It's not necessary but it gives officials a second to make sure that another official doesn't have a foul or a timeout. It's like a blarge -- I'd rather avoid any situation where two officials would be giving different signals and then having to sort out which action came first.

NBA officials advocate a delay between the whistle and the signal (they use that time to point out the jumpers), so do not be surprised if you start seeing it creep into the Big South, Atlantic Sun, and SEC; then trickle down from there.