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: BAXI Manresa v Telekom Baskets Bonn - Shooter's Foul

White 2 receives the ball on the corner and attempts a 3 point shot. Defender Red 81 jumps to try to block the shot without invading the shooter’s cylinder. After the ball has been released for the shot, White 2 extends his right leg outside his cylinder and creates a contact with Red 81 legs. The ball enters the basket. The referee calls a foul to White 2 and decides that the basket is valid.

According to the Official Basketball Rules (art. 10.4), the ball does not become dead and the goal counts if made when the ball is in flight on a shot for a field goal and an official blows his whistle. Article 33.2 says that the offensive player, whether on the floor or airborne, shall not cause contact with the defensive player in a legal guarding position by spreading his legs or arms to cause contact during or immediately after a shot for a field goal.

Outcome: Correct decision from the referees. The basket is valid as the ball was in the air when the referee blew his whistle to call the foul. White 2 made a foul for blocking an opponent spreading his leg outside his cylinder and creating a contact with his opponent.

Tough Call 2: Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem v Anwil - UF

White team starts a transition play. White 2 passes the ball to his teammate White 17, who attempts a jump shot. While being airborne, defender Blue 33 contacts with the shooter’s legs, making him lose his balance. The referee calls an Unsportsmanlike Foul to Blue 33 (Criteria C2) as he considered the contact to be excessive and hard, caused by a player in an effort to play the ball or an opponent (article 37.1.1).

However, if we analyse the play situation carefully, we can see that the contact created by Blue 33 on the shooter was nothing but a consequence of a previous illegal contact created by with White 24 on Blue 33.  White 24 took a position in the path of a moving opponent without the ball so quickly that didn’t allow him time or distance to avoid the contact and bumped into him with his left knee.

Outcome: Incorrect decision from the referees. A team control foul should be called to White team and the ball awarded to the Blue team for a throw-in.

Tough Call 3: San Pablo Burgos v EBPLO - Foul and basket

Blue 22 passes the ball to Blue 25 and tries to set a screen for his team mate above the top of the key.  Defender Grey 20 sees the screener and tries to go below the pick. Blue 22 starts to roll so defenders Grey 20 and 14 have to switch their men, thus creating a mismatch in the rolling movement to the basket. Grey 20 grabs Blue 22’s arm, gives three more steps and fakes being fouled. The referee calls a team control foul to Blue 22 and cancels the basket.

According to article 10.4, the ball does not become dead and the goal counts if made when the ball is in flight on a shot for a field goal and an official blows his whistle.

Outcome: Incorrect decision from the referees. It was Grey 20 who committed a foul grabbing Blue 22. However, the referee called a foul to Blue 22 when the ball was in the air, so the basket should have been valid and the Grey team should have been awarded the ball for a throw-in from the endline in its backcourt.

Tough Call 4: BAXI Manresa v Telekom Baskets Bonn - Goaltending

White 2 lays the ball up near the basket and uses his left hand to bounce it off the backboard and into the basket. After the ball has touched the backboard, Red 5 blocks the shot. According to article 31.2.1, goaltending violation occurs during a shot for a field goal when a player touches the ball while it is completely above the level of the rim and it is on its downward flight to the basket OR after it has touched the backboard, which is this case.

Outcome: Correct decision from the referees. Two points were awarded to White 2.

Tough Call 5: VEF Riga v Gaziantep - Offensive foul

Near the end of the game, player Black 8 dribbles the ball and is guarded by White 44. Black 45 wants to set a screen to clear his teammate’s path to the basket and a contact with White 44 occurs. The referee calls a team control foul (blocking foul).

For a screen to be considered legal, article 33.7 says that the player who is screening an opponent must be stationary (inside his cylinder) when the contact occurs. A screen is considered illegal if the player who is screening an opponent is moving when contact occurs or if he doesn’t respect the elements of time and distance of an opponent in motion when contact occurs.

Outcome: Correct decision from the referees. Player Black 45 didn’t fulfill any of the requirements to set a legal screen as he was moving when the contact occurred, and he didn’t respect the elements of time and distance on moving player White 44. White team will receive the ball for a throw in at the sideline.