09 October, 2018
05 May, 2019
11/03/2019
Tough Calls
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Tough Calls - Round of 16, leg 1

MIES (Switzerland) - Each week, experts are analysing the games. In order to improve the understanding of referees' decisions and to increase the transparency towards our fans, we publish some of those "tough calls", together with an explanation. 

Please find below last week's "tough calls":

Tough Call 1: Telenet Giants Antwerp v UCAM Murcia - Traveling

Black 31 receives the ball in the transition, while he is moving and starts his dribble. When he receives the ball, his right foot is on the floor (zero step). After that, his left foot (1st step) and right foot (2nd step) touch the floor before he releases the ball to then start a dribble. A travelling violation should be called. A player who catches the ball while he is progressing, after receiving the ball,  shall release the ball to start his dribble before his second step. 

Outcome: Correct decision by referees.

 

Tough Call 2: Neptunas Klaipeda v Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem - Technical foul

In the top of the key, Black 22 and White 22 create a contact. It looks like defensive player White 22 is held by Black 22 and a foul is called on Black 22. The contacts are initiated by both players and can be considered as marginals and no fouls should be called. The action by White 22 with his hands is exaggerated and therefore a "fake a foul" warning should be addressed to him. After the call, Black 22 behavior is an unsportsmanlike conduct, regardless if the foul was correct or not, and a Technical Foul should be addressed to him. 

Outcome: Incorrect decision for the foul on Black 22 by referees. Correct decision for the Technical Foul on Black 22.

 

Tough Call 3: Brose Bamberg v Banvit - Semi-circle rule

Black 9 comes up to the court by dribbling and penetrates to the basket. When in the air, he passes the ball to his teammate Black 21, close to basket. After the pass, Black 9 creates a contact (crashes) with White 21, who is inside the no-charge semi-circle. For the no-charge semi-circle rule to be applied: (a) The defensive player shall have one foot or both feet in contact with the semi-circle area. (b) The offensive player shall drive to the basket across the semi-circle line and attempt a shot for a field goal or a pass while airborne. Black 9’s action is a legal play. The no-charge semi-circle rule shall be applied and either a foul should be called on the defensive player or no call as followed in the video. 

Outcome: Correct decision by referees.

 

Tough Call 4: Nizhny Novgorod v Umana Reyer Venezia - Unsportsmanlike foul

Red team has a throw-in in the frontcourt. White 18 deflects the pass and the ball moves towards to the new frontcourt, when he is fouled by Red 50. White 18 controls the ball (bounces) when an illegal contact occurs by Red 50. Any illegal contact by the defensive player from behind or laterally on an opponent, in an attempt to stop the fast break, and when there is no defensive player between the offensive player and the opponent’s basket, should be considered as an Unsportsmanlike Foul (regardless the nature of the illegal contact). And therefore an Unsportsmanlike Foul should be called on Red 50 (C4). 

Outcome: Correct decision by referees.

 

Tough Call 5: PAOK v AEK - Act of shooting

White 13 drives to the basket and once he has gathered the ball, Black 1 creates an illegal contact (blocking foul) and a foul is called correctly on him. After the foul, White 13 takes his 1st and 2nd step and shoots the ball to the basket. The referee then cancels the basket. The continued motion starts when a player gathers the ball (zero step) to drive to the basket and if the foul is made after that, and the motion of the offensive player is to complete the action by actually shooting the ball towards the basket, the situation is considered as a foul during the act of shooting. The basket should be accounted and 1 additional free throw to be awarded to White 13. 

Outcome: Correct decision by referees to call a foul. Incorrect decision to cancel the basket and award a throw-in.

 

Tough Call 6: Promitheas Patras v Iberostar Tenerife - Technical foul

Blue 4 is close to the basket and tries to make a shot. Defensive player White 14 hits the ball during the shot and the attempt fails. In the replay, it is visible that White 14’s hand touches the ball and no foul should be called. Blue 4 initiates an unsportsmanlike gestures and a Technical foul should be assessed on him. 

Outcome: Correct decision by referees on both cases.