The NBA announced Feb. 27 that it will have a new transparency initiative relating to its officiating program, which started March 2 and will continue throughout the 2015 NBA playoffs.
The league will provide play-by-play reports and a video in regards to all calls and non-calls that happen in the last two minutes of a game and the entire overtime period.
Calls include things that should have not been called but were called anyway.
Non-calls are categorized as calls that should have been called but were not.
This is a good rule to put in place because close calls could cost a team the game, especially if it is needed win.
Things like buzzer beater shots and fouls could contribute in deciding whether or not a team will win.
This season has been a rollercoaster for teams in both the Western and Eastern Conference.
Obviously wins are much needed to not only get into the playoffs, but have a good spot for the playoff lineup.
The NBA is constantly scrutinized for certain calls that they make and this creates a more specific protocol for the comments made by people.
It is a good appreciation of the difficulty of the job as a referee and a deeper sense of the correct interpretations of the rules of the game.
NBA referees have a difficult time officiating in the sports industry, making many split-second decisions throughout the game.
Though with the new initiative, the referee union had no involvement when it came to the NBA’s new plan.
The league has previously included the NBA Replay Center, real-time postings on NBA.com and @NBAOfficial of the replays used by officials and bi-weekly rule “points of emphasis” memos that are sent to teams, referees and the media.
The “last two minutes” officiating report is the latest step in the league’s efforts toward better officiating.
The last two minute report includes what quarter the call or non-call took place, along with the time, call type, which player and a video.
The NBA provided an example from a game January 19 between the Portland Trailblazers and the Sacramento Kings.
Twelve calls from the last two minutes of the game were reviewed and one call from the game was incorrect, which was on a rebound that should have been called for a foul, but was not.
On March 16 the Golden State Warriors defeated the Los Angeles Lakers, 108-105, at Oracle Arena.
The following day, two late incorrect calls were found from the game.
One of the calls was a non-call on Klay Thompson fouling Jordan Clarkson.
The other was an incorrect foul on Draymond Green fouling Clarkson.
The calls made in the game will be reviewed by a senior referee, manager or a basketball operations manager.
They will assess the calls and the reports will then be posted on NBA.com/ official and Media Central, the NBA’s media website (mediacentreal.nba.com) by 5 p.m. the day after each game.
NBA fans are very passionate when it comes to the game of basketball and have an intense interest in what goes on during the game and behind the scenes.
It is a good thing that the league has decided to step up their officiating because it is not only helpful to the media, but fans as well.
We do not have much of an idea of what coaches think or what officials do. We learn from what is shown and how athletes react.
It is a huge responsibility to make the right decisions in a game and using the last two minutes and overtime period to review calls is a good way to start and compromise.
It is hard for us to analyze every little call throughout the whole game, but this is a good step in the right direction for officiating wise.
Jolene Nacapuy, a junior journalism major, is sports editor of the Campus Times. She can be reached by email at jolene.nacapuy@laverne.edu and on Twitter @_jjolenenacapuy.
