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: Polski Cukier Torun v UNET Holon - Screening

White 43 sets a screen on Purple 23, who is in motion. According to the Official Basketball Rules (art. 33.7),  for a screen to be legal, the player who is screening an opponent must be stationary inside his cylinder and must also have both feet on the floor when contact occurs. Furthermore, as White 43 is setting the screen on an opponent who is in motion, White 43 must respect the elements of time and distance; the screener must leave enough space so that the player who is being screened is able to avoid the screen by stopping or changing direction.

When White 43 sets his position for the screen he is inside his own cylinder with both feet on the floor, Purple 23 is at least 2 normal steps away, so he has enough time and space to avoid the screen.

Outcome: Incorrect decision by the referees. White 43 has established a legal screen and cannot be penalized.

Tough Call 2: Telekom Baskets Bonn v Besiktas Sompo Sigorta - IRS

White team takes a throw in with 1.1 seconds to the end of the quarter. White 23 receives the ball with his back to the basket. He then bounces the ball, faces the basket and attempts a jump shot from behind the 3-point line. The game clock signal sounds for the end of the quarter at approximately at the same time. The referees say that the basket counts. According to Art. 46.12.1, the crew chief can use the Instant Replay at the end of a quarter to decide whether a shot for a successful field goal was released before the game signal sounded for the end of the quarter. Art. 9.8 says that when the backboard is equipped with red lightning around its perimeter, the lightning takes precedence over the game clock signal sound to determine if a quarter has ended.

After the review, the Crew Chief decides that the ball had left White 23’s hand after the red lightning around the backboard had flashed, that is, after the playing time for that quarter had expired.

Outcome: Correct decision by the referees.

Tough Call 3: Casademont Zaragoza v Falco Szombathely - End of game

Yellow team is losing by 1 point with 2.8 seconds to the end of the game. They have been awarded a throw-in at the opponent’s base line. Yellow 2 receives the ball and makes a dribble towards the basket whilst being guarded by Red 12. When Yellow 2 stops and turns to shoot, help defender Red 8 grabs the ball without creating any contact with his opponent and the game clock signal sounds for the end of the game.

Outcome: Correct decision by the referees.

Tough Call 4: Gaziantep v Brose Bamberg - Interference & Technical Foul

White 44 uses a change of pace dribble from behind the 3-point line and attempts a lay-up. In an attempt to block the shot, Grey 43 hits the backboard and the ball does not enter the basket.

As the lead official gets to the base line, he calls a technical foul on the White team bench because the coach and other team bench members are standing and showing their open disagreement with the decision.

Art. 31.2.4 states that it will be considered a basket interference violation if a defensive player causes the basket to vibrate in such a way that, in the judgement of an official, the ball has been prevented from entering the basket.

Outcome: incorrect decision by the referees. Grey 43 hit the backboard and the basket started to vibrate when the ball still had a chance to enter the basket. A basket interference violation should have been called and 2 points awarded to White team.

Art. 7.6 states that only the coach or the assistant coach, only one at any given time, is permitted to remain standing during the game. And Art. 7.3 states that all substitutes, excluded players and accompanying delegation members shall remain seated during playing time.

Outcome: Correct technical foul to the coach for his behavior and his lack of bench control.