Why the hell do they have Instant Replay?

[tristan20]

Watching them go to video for stupid calls and not valid ones is just dumb as hell.

Watching the Clippers Houston game, clippers get robbed because they review who the ball went off of but not the Howard OBVIOUS goal tend a second before with less than 30 secs Clippers down by 2.

3 Blind mice

[DUCKanay]

Hate the Clips (and Rockets too) lol, but yea they got robbed on the missed call. They can't review goaltends unless there was an actual whistle on it.

[xavieronly1]

I just think all these replays kill the game. The last game minute was like 30 minutes. Coach should burn timeout in order to challenge the call.

[paul06901]

The "Secaucas Replay Center" and the entire replay system are a complete JOKE.

A 20 million dollar, "high-tech-looking" room full of screens with a bunch of overpaid dopey nerds really doing nothing but the exact same thing that the on-court refs are doing at their screen.

The calls seem to take LONGER. And you have Marv Albert and Reggie Miller and every other commentator raving about it. It's complete garbage lol ... I mean, does it really take 1-2 minutes to make the call when those nerds have the screens right in front of them? We can sit at home and make the call ourselves, take a leak and grab a beer and be back before the official call is made!


How about, NO REPLAYS! Like it used to be and always was. When there was an actual flow to the game. Teams didn't get free timeouts and water breaks.

I get wanting to "get the call right" but they make so many other bad calls during the game, who really cares. Kills the momentum, takes the players out of sync, and ruins the intensity of a fast-pace.


Replay center is one of the worst things the NBA came up with. Refs get paid to make the calls, let them make the calls and if they consistently get calls wrong, replace them with a newer ref.

[ninjacookies]

I think because being able to review all potential missed calls that weren't called on the court opens up pandoras box, and would greatly slow down the flow of the game.

Just think about how many plays they could go back and retro-actively call fouls on for missed holds or hacks or even traveling. Officials will never be able to get things 100% right...just sucks this happened so late in the game on a crucial play.

[tristan20]

I think because being able to review all potential missed calls that weren't called on the court opens up pandoras box, and would greatly slow down the flow of the game.

Just think about how many plays they could go back and retro-actively call fouls on for missed holds or hacks or even traveling. Officials will never be able to get things 100% right...just sucks this happened so late in the game on a crucial play.

I understand that, but think about this.

One team down 2, less than 30 secs left and everyone could see it was a clear goal tend. You would think they should "Get the call right"

They already went to video review but only to see who the ball went off of. So the time was already killed.

It kills the outcome of games. Either get rid of it completely or at least monitor close games with better discretion.

[bkcardcollector]

I completely agree with everything in this post. IR in all sports is out of control and ruins a lot of games. Refs are so scared to make a call these days and just botch so many games. Damn shame. Especially in basketball where calls are being balanced and not always clear cut.

[ninjacookies]

I understand that, but think about this.

One team down 2, less than 30 secs left and everyone could see it was a clear goal tend. You would think they should "Get the call right"

They already went to video review but only to see who the ball went off of. So the time was already killed.

It kills the outcome of games. Either get rid of it completely or at least monitor close games with better discretion.


Well, you'd have to restructure it to something reasonable, because being able to go back and retroactively call any and every non call would make games last 8 hours. Maybe for all plays within the final 30 seconds?

What about games that are blowouts? Are those special exceptions where the rule wouldn't be in play?

Again, it opens up pandoras box...there's way too many variables to factor in. There are a lot of games that end on bad or questionable calls or no calls...that's just the nature of sports...and what actually makes the game fun to watch because you know refs aren't going to get things right a lot of the time and there are many 'judgement' calls.

It's just like baseball...what fun would it be if they took out umpires and replaced them with computers?

[bkcardcollector]

Well, you'd have to restructure it to something reasonable, because being able to go back and retroactively call any and every non call would make games last 8 hours. Maybe for all plays within the final 30 seconds?

What about games that are blowouts? Are those special exceptions where the rule wouldn't be in play?

Again, it opens up pandoras box...there's way too many variables to factor in. There are a lot of games that end on bad or questionable calls or no calls...that's just the nature of sports...and what actually makes the game fun to watch because you know refs aren't going to get things right a lot of the time and there are many 'judgement' calls.

It's just like baseball...what fun would it be if they took out umpires and replaced them with computers?

spot on, exactly the way I feel

[UltimateDeron]

Definitely a game changing missed call.

I've seen more this season than any season ever, yet we are only 2 weeks in.

[pennywise]

The league makes it more difficult than it has to be. If a replay clearly shows goaltending or a ball going off of somebody, etc.. And we see it, the commentators see it.. Have that information relayed to the refs! How hard is that? Everyone at home sees indisputable goaltending? CALL GOALTENDING. Put those points on the board. I don't care what the initial call was. This is why we have replay. Get the call right.

[ninjacookies]

The league makes it more difficult than it has to be. If a replay clearly shows goaltending or a ball going off of somebody, etc.. And we see it, the commentators see it.. Have that information relayed to the refs! How hard is that? Everyone at home sees indisputable goaltending? CALL GOALTENDING. Put those points on the board. I don't care what the initial call was.

So you're saying...any play where announcers or people at home 'see' something that the refs don't...they should be allowed to buzz in and play should stop and the play auto reviewed for something missed..then retroactively called?

Sheesh. You realize that would probably create endless games and basically 5 hours of hack-a-deandre-paced basketball.

The reason why the goaltending was not reviewable is because it was never called in the first place.

Just imagine how many missed travel calls or illegal contact off the ball there is during every game. The refs will never get all of it...nor should they have to. That's part of the human element of the game and officiating.

I do, agree, however, that the entire late game replay system for both the nfl and nba is complex and far from perfect. But we also have to be realistic.

[UltimateDeron]

So you're saying...any play where announcers or people at home 'see' something that the refs don't...they should be allowed to buzz in and play should stop and the play auto reviewed for something missed..then retroactively called?

Sheesh. You realize that would probably create endless games and basically 5 hours of hack-a-deandre-paced basketball.

The reason why the goaltending was not reviewable is because it was never called in the first place.

Just imagine how many missed travel calls or illegal contact off the ball there is during every game. The refs will never get all of it...nor should they have to. That's part of the human element of the game and officiating.

I do, agree, however, that the entire late game replay system for both the nfl and nba is complex and far from perfect. But we also have to be realistic.

How about any play in the final 2 minutes can be reviewed? Not just out of bounds or shot clock violations? Or is that what is in place right now?

[Rabie1]

So they saw the play again. and saw that Howard touched the ball over the rim and still were able to do nothing?

[Andy5]

The "Secaucas Replay Center" and the entire replay system are a complete JOKE.

A 20 million dollar, "high-tech-looking" room full of screens with a bunch of overpaid dopey nerds really doing nothing but the exact same thing that the on-court refs are doing at their screen.


I thought they were refs at the replay center? Could've swarn that's what I heard commentators say a couple of days ago.

So they saw the play again. and saw that Howard touched the ball over the rim and still were able to do nothing?

As ninja has been pointing out, the goaltend wasn't whistled, so they couldn't review it. Look for the NBA to make changes to their rules as the season progresses.

[xavieronly1]

How about any play in the final 2 minutes can be reviewed? Not just out of bounds or shot clock violations? Or is that what is in place right now?

Play can include all in bound pass, pick, screen at the baseline, bench step on the court for violation, bumping, grabbing jersey, holding hand, hand check....

I can list 100 "plays" happened in the last 2 minute that are not called. What you guys are taking about is a review from 10 different angles and see if there is any miss call. It is possible, but I don't think that is how the game should be play.

In the end, there are 82 games. And each player series is best of 7. And every game is 48 minutes long. One missed call does not mean championship.

[pennywise]

So you're saying...any play where announcers or people at home 'see' something that the refs don't...they should be allowed to buzz in and play should stop and the play auto reviewed for something missed..then retroactively called?

Sheesh. You realize that would probably create endless games and basically 5 hours of hack-a-deandre-paced basketball.

The reason why the goaltending was not reviewable is because it was never called in the first place.

Just imagine how many missed travel calls or illegal contact off the ball there is during every game. The refs will never get all of it...nor should they have to. That's part of the human element of the game and officiating.

I do, agree, however, that the entire late game replay system for both the nfl and nba is complex and far from perfect. But we also have to be realistic.

Not really what I'm saying at all. In the same way a player might have a foot on the line on what was initially called a 3-point shot, and then is correctly changed to 2 points (AFTER REVIEW), the same steps should be taken to put points on the board for a missed goaltending call.

I'm strictly talking about plays where replay shows indisputable evidence regarding points scored. It is unacceptable to have the commentators and everyone else at home see legally scored points and those points NOT go on the board. Theoretically, it wouldn't slow down play anymore than play is already slowed down to show the replay in the first place.

We can talk "human element" and "integrity of the game" all day and it sounds great, but at the end of the day, wouldn't you much rather wait a minute for the right call instead of just accepting a blatant wrong call for the sake of convenience?

[bkcardcollector]

We can talk "human element" and "integrity of the game" all day and it sounds great, but at the end of the day, wouldn't you much rather wait a minute for the right call instead of just accepting a blatant wrong call for the sake of convenience?

Its more than a minute. It happens more than once a game. It completely changes the flow of the game. Teams are getting free timeouts at the end of games all the time. It is a huge part of head coaches job to be on the ref and try to "get" calls. Just make a damn call and stick with it, PLEASE.

Here is an example of where IR doesn't work at all.

Player A gets bumped (light foul), by player B, and drops the ball out of bounds. Now the "proper call" is a cheap foul on player B and give the ball to player A. However, often you will see the ref not call the foul and instead just call out off player B, player A gets the ball. There done, no ticky tack call and the right team has the ball.

Now if we had replay we would see it was actually not touched by player B so if no foul was called it should be Player B who gets the ball. If this were the case the ref would have to call the ticky tack foul because it should be player A ball.

Sports are not perfect. Its all about doing your best and getting away with as much as the refs will allow.

[pennywise]

Its more than a minute. It happens more than once a game. It completely changes the flow of the game. Teams are getting free timeouts at the end of games all the time. It is a huge part of head coaches job to be on the ref and try to "get" calls. Just make a damn call and stick with it, PLEASE.

So be it, as long as the final ruling is the correct one. So much impatience amongst sports fans. It's kind of ridiculous to me that there are spectators out there who are basically just saying, "Stop talking and entertain me! I don't care if the call is blown as long as SPOOOORRTTTTSSSS!!!"

Here is an example of where IR doesn't work at all.

Player A gets bumped (light foul), by player B, and drops the ball out of bounds. Now the "proper call" is a cheap foul on player B and give the ball to player A. However, often you will see the ref not call the foul and instead just call out off player B, player A gets the ball. There done, no ticky tack call and the right team has the ball.

Now if we had replay we would see it was actually not touched by player B so if no foul was called it should be Player B who gets the ball. If this were the case the ref would have to call the ticky tack foul because it should be player A ball.

I eat, breathe, and sleep basketball and I can't remember the last time I saw this happen. "Often"?? Where are you getting often? So the ref just decides to call the ball out on player b for no reason other than to avoid calling a "ticky tack foul"? You said it yourself: the proper call is a foul on player b and possession for player a's team. That is the one and only part of your flawed argument that I agree with. The proper call should be made.

Sports are not perfect. Its all about doing your best and getting away with as much as the refs will allow.

Oh I see, so THAT'S what it's all about. I would hate watching games with that mindset.

[bkcardcollector]

So be it, as long as the final ruling is the correct one. So much impatience amongst sports fans. It's kind of ridiculous to me that there are spectators out there who are basically just saying, "Stop talking and entertain me! I don't care if the call is blown as long as SPOOOORRTTTTSSSS!!!"

I would rather the right call be made but am willing to let a few slide. There is what 300 possessions in a NBA game. A few missed calls is not worth stopping the game over and over. Often times the stoppage in play has more influence in the game then the actual call.

End of the day sports are just entertainment. They are not changing lives or saving the world. The results are not that important grand scheme. If you are not watching sports to be entertained why the heck are you watching?

Personal opinion you don't have to agree.


I eat, breathe, and sleep basketball and I can't remember the last time I saw this happen. "Often"?? Where are you getting often? So the ref just decides to call the ball out on player b for no reason other than to avoid calling a "ticky tack foul"? You said it yourself: the proper call is a foul on player b and possession for player a's team. That is the one and only part of your flawed argument that I agree with. The proper call should be made.

I eat, breath, sleep it too. You have never seen a ref call out off the wrong player??? I guarantee you have seen this. You probably thought it was a bad call at the time. However it was actually a decision to not call a stupid foul as opposed to who it actually went off. I see it almost every game.

I would way rather not see players foul out because of ticky tak calls. I hate ticky tak fouls more than anything. A little inconsequential contact should be let go. I believe the "right" call should be made but that is not always the same as the "proper" call. I have said it for years NBA refs have the toughest job in sports. There are judgement calls constantly. Heck even travelling by definition is a judgement ("non-basketball move") call.

Again personal opinion. You don't have to agree.

Oh I see, so THAT'S what it's all about. I would hate watching games with that mindset.

I am not sure I know what mindset you are referring to but I do believe playing sports at the professional level is all about winning and doing whatever you can to get that done. If the ref puts his whistle away a little then ya you play a little rougher or you loose. There is tons of "sneaky" or "dirty" stuff every possession that is illegal but rarely called. Travels, cradling the ball, clutching and grabbing in the paint, flopping etc. etc. Its a very blurry line and it is up to the players to find that line and push it. There are just way way to many calls in NBA basketball to ever have a scientific way to officiate a game.

I would hate to watch a game screaming at the ref every time he gets a call wrong...but to each there own.

[ninjacookies]

Some of you guys are really living in idealistic worlds.