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: Brose Bamberg vs Pinar Karsiyaka - 8 Seconds

Grey 31 passes the ball to a team-mate. Red 22 taps the ball, which goes out-of-bounds in the Grey teams back court, with the shot clock showing 18 seconds. The referee informs the Grey team that they have 2 seconds to progress the ball go into their frontcourt. 

Article 28.1.1    Whenever: 

• A player in the backcourt gains control of a live ball, or
• On a throw-in, the ball touches or is legally touched by any player in the backcourt and the team of that player taking the throw-in remains in control of the ball in its backcourt, that team must cause the ball to go into its frontcourt within 8 seconds. 

Article 28.1.2    The team has caused the ball to go into its frontcourt whenever: 

(...) • The ball touches or is legally touched by a defensive player who has part of his body in contact with his backcourt.

Outcome: Incorrect decision from the referees. Red 22 had his right leg in contact with his back court (that is, Grey teams front court). The ball went into Grey team’s front court before returning to their back court. The Grey team should have a new 8-second period to pass the ball to their front court after the throw-in.

Tough Call 2: Rytas Vilnius vs VEF Riga - Fake being fouled and Act of Shooting

White 15 attempts a jump shot when the referee calls a Technical Foul to Black 2 for faking being fouled. The referee decides that the basket is valid and awards 1 free throw with no line-up to any White team player. After the free throw the Black team took a throw-in from the end-line. 

Article 16.1.1    A goal is made when a live ball enters the basket from above and remains within or passes through the basket entirely. 

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 a referee blows his whistle.

Article 36.3.2    The opponents shall be awarded 1 free throw. The game shall be resumed as follows:

• If a valid field goal, or a last free throw is scored, the game shall be resumed with a throw-in from any place behind the end-line.

Outcome: Correct decision from the referees. The ball was in the air when the technical foul was called. Therefore, the ball is live and the basket counts. After the free throw, the game was correctly resumed with a Red team throw-in from any place behind their end-line.

Tough Call 3: Hereda San Pablo Burgos vs Darüşşafaka Tekfen - UF

Black 14 taps the ball and wants to start a fast break when White 11 creates a contacts against Black 14 face. The referee calls an unsportsmanlike foul. 

Article 37.1.1    An unsportsmanlike foul is a player contact foul which, in the judgement of a referee is:

• An illegal contact caused by the player from behind or laterally on an opponent who is progressing towards the opponents’ basket and there are no other players between the progressing player, the ball and the basket. This applies until the players begins his act of shooting.

Outcome: Correct decision from the referees. The illegal contact meets the criteria to be considered as an Unsportsmanlike Foul. Black 14 shall be awarded 2 free throws with no line-up and the game shall be resumed with a Black team throw-in from the throw-in line in their front court and 14 seconds on the shot clock.

Tough Call 4: Filou Oostende vs Happy Casa Brindisi - Act of Shooting

Blue 7 is dribbling the ball and a contact occurs during his spin move to face the basket. The referee calls a personal foul on Yellow 14 and says that the foul was committed before the act of shooting started and awards a throw-in from the side-line to the Blue team with 14 seconds on the shot clock. 

Article 15.1.3    The act of shooting in a continuous movement on drives to the basket or other moving shots:

• Begins when the ball has come to rest in the player’s hand(s), upon completion of a dribble or a catch in the air and the player starts, in the judgement of the referee, the shooting motion preceding the release of the ball for a field goal.

Outcome: Incorrect decision from the referees.  When Yellow 14 committed the foul, the ball had already come to rest in Blue 7 hand. Therefore, the foul was committed on a player in the act of shooting and 2 free throws should have been awarded to Blue 7.