MIES (Switzerland) - Experts analyze all Basketball Champions League, powered by Ameresco SUNEL games each week. In order to improve the understanding of referees' decisions and to increase transparency, we publish some of those Tough Calls, along with an explanation.
TC1: ERA Nymburk vs. La Laguna Tenerife - Blocking foul
Black #17 drives towards the opponent’s basket and a contact occurs with Yellow #21. The referees call a blocking foul to Yellow #21.
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 court.
The defensive player may remain stationary, jump vertically, move laterally or backwards in order 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 court 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.
Outcome: Correct decision by the referees. Yellow #21 committed a blocking foul. The game shall be resumed with a Black team throw-in.
TC2: Fitness First Wurzburg Baskets vs. Unicaja - Pushing and cylinder play
White #21 gets into the paint to receive the ball, guarded by Black #22. Once he gets the ball he spins to face the basket, and the referees call an offensive foul to White #21.
Article 33.15: Pushing is an illegal personal contact with any part of the body where a player forcibly moves, or attempts to move, an opponent with or without the ball.
Article 33.13: Illegal guarding from the rear is personal contact with an opponent, by a defensive player, from behind. The fact that the defensive player is attempting to play the ball does not justify contact with an opponent from the rear.
Article 33.1: The defensive player may not enter the cylinder of the offensive player with the ball and cause an illegal contact when the offensive player is attempting a normal basketball play within their cylinder. The boundaries of the cylinder of the offensive player with the ball are:
The front by the feet, bent knees and arms, holding the ball above the hips.
The rear by the buttocks.
The sides by the outer edge of elbows and legs.
The offensive player with the ball must be allowed enough space for a normal basketball play within their cylinder. The normal basketball play includes starting a dribble, pivoting, shooting and passing.
Outcome: Incorrect decision by the referees.
First, Black #22 pushed White #21 before receiving the ball and a foul should have been called. Then, Black #22 did not respect White #21’s cylinder, encroaching it and not allowing enough space for a normal basketball play.
Again, a foul should have been called to Black #22.
TC3: Le Mans Sarthe Basket vs. Galatasaray MCT Technic - Goaltending
White #12 makes a lay-up and the ball is blocked by Black #33. The referees call a goaltending violation. Following the Head Coach Challenge requested by the Black team Head Coach, the initial decision is confirmed.
Article 31.2.1: Goaltending occurs during a shot for a goal when a player touches the ball while it is completely above the level of the ring and:
It is on its downward flight to the basket.
After it has touched the backboard
Outcome: Correct decision by the referees.
The ball had reached its highest point and was already on its downward flight to the basket. Two points shall be awarded to White #12.
TC4: Le Mans Sarthe Basket vs. Galatasaray MCT Technic - Charge
Black #35 receives the ball and drives towards the opponent’s basket. White #15 gets outside the NCSC before the contact occurs. The referee calls a blocking foul to White #15; basket is valid and one free throw.
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 court.
The defensive player may remain stationary, jump vertically, move laterally or backwards in order 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 court 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.
Outcome: Incorrect decision by the referee.
White #15 had already established a legal guarding position and the contact occurred on his torso. A team control foul, offensive foul, for charging with the ball should have been called to Black #35 and therefore, the basket should not be valid.