Instant replay expected to get 'overwhelming' approval

[bd811]

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- If the NBA uses instant replay next season to review last-second shots, the rules would be different from the NFL's.

There would be no challenges from the coaches, no lengthy stoppages in play.

The new rules would deal solely with instances in which there is a question of whether a shot was released before time expired at the end of a quarter. In those cases, the referees also would be able to review whether a player had his foot on the 3-point line.

"I think there's an overwhelming consensus, perhaps even unanimous ... that we should institute next season an instant replay for last-second shots," deputy commissioner Russ Granik said Tuesday at the commissioner's annual NBA Finals news conference.

Details of a proposed replay rule were discussed last week at a meeting of the league's competition committee. The change is expected to be approved by the league's Board of Governors in July.

The debate over using instant replay was heightened during this year's playoffs as a flurry of disputed shots were either counted -- or waved off -- incorrectly.

In the first round, a buzzer-beating, game-winning 3-pointer by Charlotte's Baron Davis was disallowed against Orlando even though it clearly was released in time.

In the Nets-Pacers series, Reggie Miller forced overtime in Game 5 with a shot that left his hand after the clock reached 0.0 seconds.

In Game 4 of the Kings-Lakers series, a 30-footer by Samaki Walker to end the first half was allowed even though it left his hand too late.

"I think we've finally come to the conclusion that you're not really asking a referee to make that call, good or bad. You're just asking him to guess and hope that he guesses right," Granik said. "So if instant replay can help in that, then we ought to be using it."

Granik and commissioner David Stern also said:

The Memphis Grizzlies and Minnesota Timberwolves have asked to move to the Eastern Conference, for travel reasons rather than competitive ones, if the league decides to realign in 2003-04 and move the New Orleans Hornets to the West.
Exhibition games could be held in China, Japan, Mexico and/or Europe in 2003 after a two-year hiatus.
Stern wants to see how various issues play out before deciding whether to place an expansion team in Charlotte or allow a current team to relocate there.
Finals games will tip-off around 8:30 p.m. during the first two years of the new six-year television contract with ABC -- about 45 minutes earlier than the current starting time.
The league will proceed slowly in examining whether expansion into Europe by the end of a decade makes economic sense.
The salary cap is expected to remain $42.5 million next season, or decrease slightly.
Stern and Granik both smiled broadly at a question on whether Shaquille O'Neal's dominance needs somehow to be curtailed.

"I enjoy watching him play. I'd say when Michael (Jordan) was in his prime, there was a notion that there was nothing you could do about him, either," Stern said.

"I did say to one owner: 'Perhaps we would consider a sixth-man rule' so that all the teams playing the Lakers could have six men on the court as long as Shaquille is in," Stern joked.



AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service

Copyright 2002, The Associated Press, All Rights Reserved

[lal4l]

they need it

[bd811]

i agree!

[lal4l]

they even said that the game is getting to high pased for the refs

[bd811]

i would imagine! and all fans will be mad if a ref misses somethin for their team, so now that wont happen:biggrin:

[milky_way]

Originally posted by lal4l
they need it
yup. especially after the terrible officiating in the playoffs :freak:

[Liter22]

i would imagine! and all fans will be mad if a ref misses somethin for their team, so now that wont happen

I understand that but still it just slows down the game and if the ref still misses the call the fans will still be angry. SOrry just my opinion

[milky_way]

Originally posted by Liter22
I understand that but still it just slows down the game and if the ref still misses the call the fans will still be angry
true, but in last-shot situations, a bad call can cost a team their season. These calls are very very important, and it's hard for refs to get into the right position to make the call, especially in a situation like Reggie's three where the shot was not after a timeout. the ref has to move into position where he can see the shot and the red light, or he can go by the buzzer...BUT, the most accurate way is to go by the red light, and it's nearly impossible to get into perfect position to make the call. Reggie's shot was late by a fraction of a second, and if you went by the buzzer it looked good, but if you go by the red light, it is late. Officials are human, and you can't expect them to be in the perfect position to make the call in a situation like that, which is why people want instant replays. just imagine if the Pacers went on to win that game...the Nets would have lost their season on a shot that should not have counted, but the only way a ref can make that call is by using instant replay because it is sooo close. yes it would slow down the game, but they're only talking about using it in last-second scenerios so it won't slow the game down that much. and if the refs use instant replays, it'd be pretty hard to blow a call. the bottom line is that refs should be able to use instant replays because in situatons like Reggie's three, it's nearly impossible to see the play and make the right call, and those calls can cost a team their season.

[Liter22]

Originally posted by milky_way

true, but in last-shot situations, a bad call can cost a team their season. These calls are very very important, and it's hard for refs to get into the right position to make the call, especially in a situation like Reggie's three where the shot was not after a timeout. the ref has to move into position where he can see the shot and the red light, or he can go by the buzzer...BUT, the most accurate way is to go by the red light, and it's nearly impossible to get into perfect position to make the call. Reggie's shot was late by a fraction of a second, and if you went by the buzzer it looked good, but if you go by the red light, it is late. Officials are human, and you can't expect them to be in the perfect position to make the call in a situation like that, which is why people want instant replays. just imagine if the Pacers went on to win that game...the Nets would have lost their season on a shot that should not have counted, but the only way a ref can make that call is by using instant replay because it is sooo close. yes it would slow down the game, but they're only talking about using it in last-second scenerios so it won't slow the game down that much. and if the refs use instant replays, it'd be pretty hard to blow a call. the bottom line is that refs should be able to use instant replays because in situatons like Reggie's three, it's nearly impossible to see the play and make the right call, and those calls can cost a team their season.

No comeback I can make for that:evillol:

[bd811]

haha, Vin!:evillol: