Changing the Way the Game is Re(played)

Virtual Officiating

For any avid basketball fan, the 2014 NBA Playoffs have been an absolute treat this season with five first round match-ups being pushed to a seventh game. Though viewers have had more than enough games to satisfy their basketball cravings, some are focussing on one element of the game that has left a sour taste in many mouths: officiating.

Refereeing has always been under scrutiny for cases of No-Take-Backsies – when referees either refuse to change their initial call or are prevented from properly doing so because of other rules (i.e. only permitted to review the initial call, even if other violations come to light during the review). Questionable referee calls from both conferences have been featured in highlight reels and discussions as much as, if not more than, the amazing plays you would expect from the playoffs. The aggravating late-game calls in games 5 and 6 of the Clippers-Thunder series, as well as the suspiciously fast accumulation of fouls for LeBron James in game 5 of the Heat-Pacers series have triggered fevered online debates and analyses about the NBA’s officiating[1].

It seems that referees are being called out more frequently for their mistakes than ever before. Is this a result of officiating getting worse or technology getting better?

Earlier missteps in the history of sports, like Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ goal, are more understandable given the limited amount of technology used to review the play (i.e. the lack of camera angles and the inability for referees to immediately review footage). Now, with media covering competitions from multiple angles and perspectives, viewers have a more comprehensive view of the game than referees on the floor or field. Whereas players can hide some of their dirtier moves from the sight lines of those wearing stripes, it’s near impossible to escape the millions of eyes scrutinizing the various slow-motion replays on the jumbotron.

Beyond the court and the television, social media has also allowed the sharing of these questionable calls through YouTube, Vine, and GIFs. Although the NBAOfficial Twitter account (https://twitter.com/NBAOfficial) is meant to thwart the influx of officiating outrage by informing fans of rules and procedures, it has done little to prevent some instances from going public and embarrassing the league. With pressure coming down on the NBA from its own teams, the media, and the fan base, the NBA has been encouraged to change its replay procedures.

Given recent flubs during the NBA 2014 Playoffs, it is no wonder why they have decided to embrace technology’s ability to give officials a near-360-degree analysis of every game[2]. The NHL has already adopted this system with their centralized video replay room which is held as “the envy – and, indeed, the model – of the pro sports world”[3]. This room is set-up with every camera feed possible for the purpose of providing valuable insight on plays and calls that are not influenced or swayed by the stadium atmosphere.

Though some may see this as the NBA distracting media and fans from the real problem – no accountability or punishment for referees that repeatedly make mistakes, like the now infamous Joey Crawford – using a centralized review centre will change the way the game is played in the coming season. Hopefully with the implementation of this system, the NBA will not have to release any more official apologies or news releases the day after the final buzzer has sounded.

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References

[1] http://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/26rnkg/analysis_of_lebrons_five  fouls_in_game_5/

[2] http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2067790-report-nba-moving-to-centralized-replay-system-for-2014-15-season

[3] http://www.torontosun.com/2014/04/18/a-look-inside-the-nhls-replay-war-room-can-it-work-in-the-nfl


[4] http://i.cdn.turner.com/nba/nba/dam/assets/141023135838-20141023-replay-center-long-mix-00041307.1200x672.jpg