09 October, 2018
05 May, 2019
23/11/2018
Tough Calls
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Tough Calls - Week 7


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 this week's "tough calls":

Tough Call 1: Iberostar Tenerife vs PAOK - Travel violation

Black 13 dribbles the ball and penetrates towards the basket. When he gathers the ball, his left foot is touching the floor and the next foot to touch the floor is again the left one (hop). A player may not touch the floor consecutively with the same foot or both feet after ending his dribble or gaining control of the ball, and a travel violation should be called. 

Outcome: Correct decision by referees

 

Tough Call 2: CEZ Nymburk vs Brose Bamberg - IRS

Blue 22 grabs the offensive rebound at the end of the quarter. When he shoots the ball, White 13 blocks the shot and the referee calls a foul on him at the same time, when the game clock shows 0.0 and the red light appears around the backboard. The replay demonstrates that the contact by White 13 was all in ball and no foul should be called (legal play). However at the end of the quarter, referees can review the play in order to define if the called foul (contact) occurred before (in time) or after (time expired) the red light appears. It is a close decision, but the red light appears just before the contact occurs and the called foul should be cancelled. 

Outcome: Incorrect decision by referees (for calling the foul), but correct decision (to define that the foul was after the quarter ended)

 

Tough Call 3: SIG Strasbourg vs Filou Oostende - Unsportsmanlike foul

Blue 19 receives the pass in the key. He turns to the basket and hits with his right elbow the defensive player Yellow 34. The action by Blue 19 is swinging an elbow (laterally), what is not a basketball action, and an Unsportsmanlike Foul (C1) should be called. Referees can also review the play in order to define what type of the foul should be assessed. 

Outcome: Correct decision by referees

 

Tough Call 4: Iberostar Tenerife vs PAOK - IRS

Black 25 is closely guarded by Yellow 00 at the free throw line. Black 25 moves the ball to his left side and the arm hits the face of Yellow 00. The player with the ball must be expected to be closely guarded all the time. In this case, a personal foul should be called on Black 25, his movement is a normal basketball action. Referees can also review the play in order to define what type of  foul should be assessed. 

Outcome: Correct decision by referees

 

Tough Call 5: Promitheas Patras vs Segafredo Virtus Bologna - IRS

Black 7 dribbles the ball in transition and White 3 creates an illegal contact. Black 7 was moving towards White 3 who tried to make a normal basketball defense action. A personal foul should be called on White 3. The referee calls an Unsportsmanlike Foul on White 3 but decides to review the contact, and after review downgrades the foul to a personal foul. Referees can use the Instant Replay System at any time in the game to review whether a personal, unsportsmanlike or disqualifying foul met the criteria for such a foul or shall be upgraded or downgraded, or shall be considered as a technical foul. 

Outcome: Correct decision by referees