Replacement Refs: Not a Big Change

When has the NBA not used the equivalent of replacement refs? Certainly not in my lifetime. Officiating has been broken ever since the day the league decided to scrap the rule book and and let the games become Vince McMahon-like entertainment exhibitions.

There was a time when referees were independent and acted like it. Now, they are too aware of the game clock, which players are involved in a play and how the call will be perceived by the fans, teams, owners and league officials. And they too often want to be part of the drama of the game. This game to game inconsistency and uncertainty gave room for rogue refs like Tim Donaghy (pictured) to operate.

This may be an opportunity for the league to re-invigorate the referees profession.

Or, get rid of refs altogether. Think about it. It may be possible to bring back the integrity of the game by letting the players call their own fouls - "street rules". Let the players call fouls and work things out on the court. Players know what is or is not allowed in the context of a game. Let courtside - not on-court - officials decide the really hard fouls or when replay is needed to be used.

One thing street rules will prevent ... it will stop the flop. What player would dare flop if his peers are calling the game. Regardless, unless we have a return to the basics of Dr. Naismith's' game, it doesn't matter a lick who's blowing the whistle.

NBA Refereeing

Convicted felon Tim Donaghy may be doing the NBA a favor by focusing attention on the refs. He says that several series were thrown in the past few years by crooked refs conspiring with the league.

While that may or may not be true, what is true is this: rules in the NBA are interpreted from night to night, based on location and player involved. As a result, of course viewers (and players and coaches) are going to think there's a conspiracy.

The real conspiracy, if there is one, is that the league gives refs way too much leeway from game to game and even minute to minute. Or perhaps even tells them to cal the game based on the situation.

Case in point, Game 2 of the Finals. Even during a game in which the Celtics were beneficiaries of crowd-pleasin' refereein',the worst call went against them. In the midst of the fourth quarter Laker rally, the refs ate their whistles while a Laker took five steps from mid-court with nary a dribble on the way to a dunk. Any elementary school player would have expected to hear a whistle on the play. But not in the NBA. Why break up a potentially historic comeback?

Why make the call at that point? Easy. Because it's the right call. And it'll make the next call - no matter how difficult - much more palatable for fans, players and coaches. The real challenge for the league is to have the refs achieve game-to-game consistency without regard for venue, situation, score or player status.