MIES (Switzerland) - Each week, experts and referees observers are analysing the games. In order to improve the understanding of referees' decisions and 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: Besiktas Icrypex v EWE Baskets Oldenburg - Screening

Black 17 gives a hand-off pass and sets a screen. There is a contact with White 15 and the referee calls a team control foul for illegal screening.

Article 33.7 Legal screening is when the player who is screening an opponent:

• Was stationary (inside his cylinder) when the contact occurred.
• Had both feet on the floor when the contact occurred.

If the opponent is in motion, the elements of time and distance shall apply. 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. The distance required is never less than 1, and never more than 2, normal steps. A player who is legally screened is responsible for any contact with the player who has set the screen.

Outcome: Incorrect decision from the referees. The screen set by Black 17 was legal. White 15 had enough distance to avoid the screen and he decided to bump into the screener in order to simulate that he had been fouled. 

Tough Call 2: Kalev/Cramo v Tofas Bursa - Foul in the Act of shooting

White 33 jumps for a 3-point shot. After releasing the ball, a contact with Green 9 occurs when the shooter is landing. The referee calls a foul in the act of shooting and awards 3 free throws to White 33.

Article 33.6 A player who has jumped into the air from a place on the playing court has the right to land again at the same place. He also has the right to land on another place on the playing court provided that the landing place, and the direct path between the take-off and landing place, is not already occupied by an opponent at the time of take-off.

Outcome: Correct decision from the referees. Green 9 occupied a place on the court that was free when White 33 jumped for the shot. Therefore, he created an illegal contact with the shooter. White 33 will be awarded 3 free throws. 

Tough Call 3: SIG Strasbourg v Filou Oostende - Unsportsmanlike & Technical fouls

White 3 secures the ball on a rebound and starts a transition towards his opponents’ basket. Red 4 creates a contact and the referee calls a personal foul.  After a brief discussion, the crew chief decides to use the IRS. The final decision after the review is an Unsportsmanlike Foul. Afterwards, the referee calls a technical foul to the Red Team Head Coach for his complains.

F 3.3 The following game situations may be reviewed during any time of the game:

• 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.

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

• An unnecessary contact caused by the defensive player in order to stop the progress of the offensive team in transition. This applies until the offensive player begins his act of shooting.

Outcome: Correct decision from the referees. Red 4 was chasing his opponent without having a legal guarding position and didn’t play the ball directly, creating an unnecessary contact to stop the progress of the offensive team in transition. Therefore, this is considered an unsportsmanlike foul.  White 3 shall be awarded 2 free throws and the game shall be resumed with a White Team throw-in from the throw-in line in their front court and 14 seconds on the shot clock.

Then, the Red Team Head Coach received a technical foul for his open and demonstrative disagreement with the referees’ decision. The penalty for the technical foul is 1 free throw, which shall be administered immediately, before the penalty for the unsportsmanlike foul: any White team player shall attempt 1 free throw with no line-up and then White 3 shall attempt 2 free throws with no line-up. The game shall be resumed with a White Team throw-in from the throw-in line in their front court and 14 seconds on the shot clock.

Tough Call 4: Nutribullet Treviso v AEK - Unsportsmanlike foul

On a rebound situation, Black 9 gets the ball and the referees stop the game as White 14 seems to be injured.

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

• Excessive, hard contact caused by a player in an effort to play the ball or an opponent.

F 3.3 The following game situations may be reviewed during any time of the game:

• 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: Incorrect decision from the referees. The contact created by Black 17 on White 14 should have been called as an unsportsmanlike foul. As no personal foul was called, there was no option to check IRS.