NBA OFFICIATING

[Mike-D]

I was on the treadmill last night, and so I turned on the Memphis - San Antonio game for about a quarter and a half. Granted, I knew the NBA officiating was and is better than NCAA men's basketball officiating. But it was so much better officiated that I was almost appalled.

The game had such a good flow, and the players knew when they fouled or not. There was only once instance where I saw a player complain he was fouled, with a no call. On the replay, he wasn't fouled. These NBA ref's just seem to get it right more times than not. They are so much better than the NCAA officials, it's almost as if we go to rec leagues across the country and just select random ass people. The worst part about it is that none of them get better from year to year yet we see zero changes.

Anyway, just wanted to post that. Happy Easter.

 

[BoxterS]

Something that has stuck with me for a long time is the quote by the infamous NBA official, Tim Donaghy, where he says that the entire outcome of a game can be changed with just 5 calls.

It haunts me really because I understand how easily an official can, on his own, alter the game. With it being that simple, and human error/bias coming into play, we would all be ignorant fools to not think games are influenced at the collegiate level.

It's one of those annoying things in life that we will never ever have confirmed, but that we all know; UK has been blatantly cheated against. Haunts me to my core.

Would give anything for technology to come out and have an answer for officiating. One that takes out human judgment.

 

[Aike]

I agree with the OP, but this Washington/ATL game has been ugly so far, with spotty officiating to say the least.

 

[Mike-D]

I agree with the OP, but this Washington/ATL game has been ugly so far, with spotty officiating to say the least.

I never watch NBA until the playoffs. My sample size is pretty low, but last night was much better than anything I saw in the NCAA tournament.

 

[WildMoon]

i know this is OT from this thread..

but damn, Wall looks great.

 

[BostonCat2001]

couple of fake flops in this atl/was game, refs didnt fall for it. nice to see.

 

[Aike]

I never watch NBA until the playoffs. My sample size is pretty low, but last night was much better than anything I saw in the NCAA tournament.

I absolutely agree that NBA officiating is better. Much more consistent/predictable within a game.

 

[DCFseattle]

The NBA sent a mandate to their refs a few years ago that they call the fouls rather than letting it be a wrestling match. It was ugly for a while, but eventually the players adjusted and it became basketball like it wad intended. It's a contract sport, but it isn't a collision sport.

Them players started flopping to try and draw phantom fouls. The NBA then began retroactively fining the players for flops. It didn't cut it out completely, but it's gone a long way. Start messing with their money and they stop being bitches.

The ncaa could learn some things. But instead they're too busy trying to uphold the status quo for no reason.

 

[WildMoon]

Watching GSW versus Blazer. Really called well, i think.

Wish we can get these kind of reffing in college tournament.

 

[oldfanofuk]

NBA officiating is Night and Day better than the garbage we have to put up with from the NCAA.....

 

[gojvc]

There are always exceptions, of course, but the officiating in the NBA is generally stellar. Would that it could be one-one millionth as good on the college level.

 

[Blueblood22]

It's nice to see refs don't tweet their whistle 3 or 4 times, hop on one leg to half court and do the hokey pokey and make sure everyone is watching them, then make the call.

 

[uky8unc5]

I'm stunned! A thread that is complimenting Officials? It must be Easter or something...

 

[kats23]

Full time officials of the NBA > roofers and lawyers of the NCAA

 

[Sleepy Sleeperson]

NBA officiating is much, much better - but they miss about 75% of the calls. I guess there are two categories - horrible and super horrible.

 

[BlueRunner11]

It's because men's D1 officials are often cheaters...or just following orders. You can decide.

 

[GonzoCat90]

Take your love for UK out of it, and the NBA is just a vastly superior product all around. Officiating is a big part. You also have enough talent that overmatched teams don't try to ruin the game with gimmicks and fouling.

 

[JohnnyGentle]

nba game, the replay usually confirms that they got it right

college game, the replay usually confirms that you got it right, sitting on your ass at home wondering what the f they just called

 

[mj2k10]

Take your love for UK out of it, and the NBA is just a vastly superior product all around. Officiating is a big part. You also have enough talent that overmatched teams don't try to ruin the game with gimmicks and fouling.

I generally agree, but I'm not sure what college basketball could do. College has the intensity level on a much more consistent basis than the NBA, but beyond that, the NBA just has players who are more skilled.

I think a huge part of why the NBA usually looks like better basketball is the spacing. Even the worst team in the NBA has multiple guys who have to be guarded out to 25 feet. Very, very few college teams can match that, especially since outside shooting is the one skill that guys really seem to be able to improve with age. The college game is congested, to the point that it often looks like the college game is being played on a smaller court than the NBA game. The way NBA teams spread out, there are passing and driving lanes that just aren't there in the average college game.

The one rule I think the college game ought to consider is the 3 second defensive rule. You can still zone to your heart's content, but there's a logical consistency to the idea that if offensive players can't camp out under the basket, defensive players shouldn't be able to either. That might help clear some of the congestion, and give the skilled players more room to operate.

 

[UKGrad93]

NBA season has about 1250 games played.
NCAA season has about 5100 games played.

I can't find data on how many refs there are for each league, but the NBA has fewer games to cover and my guess is that they take the top refs from the total referee pool.

 

[justin_uk_5]

The NBA doesn't call ticket tack fouls.. players constantly push, grab, body, handcheck. They essentially wrestle each other lol.. but it's a lot more enjoyable. They get away with a lot of contact but it's consistent.. also love how they don't call a foul on every single drive when someone barely touching the player.

 

[bluinbville]

Take your love for UK out of it, and the NBA is just a vastly superior product all around. Officiating is a big part. You also have enough talent that overmatched teams don't try to ruin the game with gimmicks and fouling.

The 24 sec shot clock doesn't allow for many gimmicks on offense or D. The NBA reps the best players from the world without practice restrictions along with the monetary incentive. The commish made it so there is one basic standard that governs all refs. That is why the Association is that much better than NCAA.

 

[JPScott]

The NBA doesn't call ticket tack fouls.. players constantly push, grab, body, handcheck. They essentially wrestle each other lol.. but it's a lot more enjoyable. They get away with a lot of contact but it's consistent.. also love how they don't call a foul on every single drive when someone barely touching the player.

I'd argue the opposite. The NBA went to great pains to clean up the game a number of years ago and have remained consistent. The players have adjusted.

College basketball, on the other hand, usually vows to clean up at the start of the year but by conference season, it's back to the grind-it-out slogfest. There's no consistency among refs and no motivation to do so.

 

[JPScott]

I generally agree, but I'm not sure what college basketball could do. College has the intensity level on a much more consistent basis than the NBA, but beyond that, the NBA just has players who are more skilled.

20 years ago I would agree that college basketball has a more consistently high intensity level, but don't think that's the case anymore.

The NBA intensity is high and consistent during games IMO, including when the second unit plays and during blowouts. There's just too much competition for NBA spots that I think the players know they can't just mail it in, at any time.