05 October, 2021
15 May, 2022
19/03/2022
Tough Calls
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Tough Calls - Round of 16, Week 5

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: MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg v Hapoel U-NET Holon - Charge with the ball

Blue 4 drives to the basket and makes a lay-up. A contact occurs with Yellow 21, and the referee calls a charging foul to Blue 4 and cancels the basket.

Article 33.4 When judging a charge/block situation involving a player with the ball, a referee shall use the following principles:

  • The defensive player must establish an initial legal guarding position by facing the player with the ball and having both feet on the floor.
  • The defensive player may remain stationary, jump vertically, move laterally or backwards to maintain the initial legal guarding position.
  • When moving to maintain the initial legal guarding position, one foot or both feet may be off the floor for an instant, as long as the movement is lateral or backwards, but not towards the player with the ball.
  • Contact must occur on the torso, in which case the defensive player would be considered as having been at the place of contact first.
  • Having established a legal guarding position, the defensive player may turn within his cylinder to avoid injury.

Article 33.6 A player who has jumped into the air 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 the landing place is not already occupied by an opponent at the time of take-off.

Article 10.3 The ball becomes dead when a referee blows his whistle while the ball is live.

Outcome: Correct decision from the referees. When Blue 4 took off, Yellow 21 had already occupied a position on the court with both feet on the floor and facing his opponent. This is a charging foul. The basket is not valid because the ball was still in Blue 4 hand when the foul was committed.

 

Tough Call 2: Filou Oostende v Unicaja - Charge without the ball

Green 8 makes a lay-up and a contact occurs with Yellow 18. The referee awards the 2-point field goal and calls a personal foul to Green 8.

Article 14.1.3 Team control ends when the ball has left the player’s hand(s) on a shot for a field goal.

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 the referee blows his whistle.

Outcome: Correct decision from the referees. The ball had already left Green 8 hands when the contact occurred, so the basket is valid.  As the Green team was not yet in team foul penalty in the quarter (second foul), the game will be resumed with a yellow team throw-in from the place closest to where the foul was committed except directly behind the backboard.

 

Tough Call 3: JDA Dijon v Galatasaray - Goaltending

White 3 attempts a 3-point field goal. When the ball is in the air, the game clock signal sounds for the end of the playing time. Red 5 then touches the ball. The referees award a 3-point field goal to White 3.

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 the game clock signal sounds for the end of the quarter or overtime.

Article 31.2.1 Goaltending occurs during a shot for a field goal when a player touches the ball while it is in flight above the level of the ring, and it is on its downward flight to the basket.

Article 31.2.3 The goaltending restrictions apply until:

  • The ball no longer has the possibility to enter the basket
  • The ball has touched the ring

F.3.1 The following situations may be reviewed when the game clock shows 2:00 minutes or less in the fourth quarter and in each overtime:

* Whether a goaltending or basket interference violation was called correctly.

Outcome: Correct decision from the referees. Red 5 committed a goaltending violation as he touched the ball on its downward flight to the basket above the level of the rim during a field goal. White 3 shall be awarded 3 points.

Moreover, a goaltending violation that has been called by the referees can only be reviewed with the Instant Replay during the last 2 minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime.

 

Tough Call 4: Darussafaka v BAXI Manresa - Travelling

White 1 ends his dribble and makes a pass. The referee calls a travelling violation.

Art. 25.2.1 If a player who comes to a stop on his first step has both feet on the floor or they touch the floor simultaneously, he may pivot using either foot as his pivot foot. If he then jumps with both feet, no foot may return to the floor before the ball is released from the hand(s).

Outcome: Correct decision from the referees. White 1 came to a stop with both feet on the floor. He then lifted both feet and his left foot touched the floor before he released the ball for the pass. This is a travelling violation.