Tyler Murray:
I know some of us were frustrated that the 2 blown calls were not discussed much in the media, but in the second half of this video, the PTI guys are on top of it.

http://espn.go.com/video/clip%3Fid%3D6385843

Even the TNT guys addressed it.

http://www.nba.com/insidethenba/

Latest Show –> Blown Calls

The Perkins thing was ridiculous. Anything in the last two minutes the least bit questionable needs to be subject to review.

I agree that you’re never going to have the perfect refs, but certainly we can do better than what we’ve been seeing the last two or three years. Simmons wrote a pretty good piece about it back in ’09: http://es.pn/fHzG2

I’m not sure pass interference is the best example. To me, that should be a far easier call to make, as you’re dealing with two isolated players on a much larger field where you can actually focus on the two players at hand. Not like the NBA where there’s just a swarm of congested bodies that can muddy up the “picture”.

Again, the idea of a challenge wouldn’t eliminate all the bad calls. But it would at least give team’s a redress late in games where those bad calls matter more. You’re right though, probably not worth discussing as nothing remotely resembling this will ever happen.

I’d be all for coaches challenges. Put an official in the booth to watch replays as well.

Jim Cavan:
I’ve been thinking a lot about the inherent problems and issues with NBA refereeing. I’ve tossed around a few hair-brained ideas, including letting teams call their own fouls for the first 10 of each half, but what about having an NFL-like challenge system? What if we were to give coaches, say, 2 challenges per half (not to be carried over)?

Technology has gotten to a point in the NBA where we can pretty much instantaneously see from a variety of angles whether a call — and particularly afoul — was agood one or not. Let’s say D’Antoni were able to challenge the Melo call. The three refs would confer on the sidelines, and basically vote on whether the call should stand, with a majority of 2 carrying the day.

The only issue with this, obviously, is that you couldn’t challenge no-calls like KG’s blatant trip. But it would at least preclude some of the ticky-tack stuff we see late in games that just ruins the flow and leaves bitter tastes in many a mouth.

Hard to take your ideas that seriously since they have no chance of ever being incorporated, but I’ll try. The foul call is always going to involve some subjectivity, kind of like pass interference in football. There is no definitive “yes, it’s a foul, no, it’s not” boundary. The Melo call is a perfect example, it is totally based on the referee’s interpretation. Obviously there are many blatant calls that are missed or made that replay would help address, but there are far too many “contact” plays that are totally subject to the ref’s discretion, probably several on each possession.

That offensive goaltending non-call vs. Perkins, however, is one that I think should be subject to replay. Any time there are clear, indisputable lines and boundaries, replay is good. If it there is subjectivity and interpretation involved, it is not likely to work as well.

http://espn.go.com/video/clip%3Fid%3D6385843

Technology has gotten to a point in the NBA where we can pretty much instantaneously see from a variety of angles whether a call — and particularly a foul — was a good one or not. Let’s say D’Antoni were able to challenge the Melo call. The three refs would confer on the sidelines, and basically vote on whether the call should stand, with a majority of 2 carrying the day.

The only issue with this, obviously, is that you couldn’t challenge no-calls like KG’s blatant trip. But it would at least preclude some of the ticky-tack stuff we see late in games that just ruins the flow and leaves bitter tastes in many a mouth. Again, just an idea. It doesn’t fix the problems with no-calls that should be calls, but I for one would much rather let more stuff go and be able to rescind the ticky tack stuff.

I think Bulls fans have a lot to be worried about going forward. Their next series would be against Dwight Howard, who will nullify Chicago’s O-Reb advantage, or against Atlanta, who rebounds better than Indy and has Hinrich, who is light-years better on defense than Collison, and two good shotblockers at the rim in Horford and Josh Smith.