The NBA is the worst officiated sport in the entire world.

[steadysoul]

So I'll just say some things:

1. I think talking about NBA officiating is now necessary because it really is becoming more of an issue - Players are undeniably premeditatedly performing violent jerky action that is not remotely a good idea when actually trying to play basketball in hopes of manipulating the refs...and it sure seems like its success has changed the sport. I'm bullish on the progression of the NBA's style of play over time on so many other fronts, but this is something that will only get worse until you change something in the approach.

This is really important and I don't think people really understand this point. If there is a competitive advantage to manipulating the rules players are going to do it. It silly to try to stop it. You can't stop people from trying to take advantage of the system. You just build a system that discourages it.

[Dez]

In the world? No.

There are other sports in other countries that have it far worse, AFL in Australia for example.

God awful.

[Doctor MJ]

So I'll just say some things:

1. I think talking about NBA officiating is now necessary because it really is becoming more of an issue - Players are undeniably premeditatedly performing violent jerky action that is not remotely a good idea when actually trying to play basketball in hopes of manipulating the refs...and it sure seems like its success has changed the sport. I'm bullish on the progression of the NBA's style of play over time on so many other fronts, but this is something that will only get worse until you change something in the approach.

This is really important and I don't think people really understand this point. If there is a competitive advantage to manipulating the rules players are going to do it. It silly to try to stop it. You can't stop people from trying to take advantage of the system. You just build a system that discourages it.

I appreciate you hammering it in, and I agree with you. People - including the NBA organizational leadership (sometimes called Nothing But Attorneys) - are struggling to grasp what the problem actually is. They know there is a problem - the fans complain about it because they see it, the leadership implements new points of emphasis because they see it - but they don't understand the systemic nature of the issue.

Also, I see you've been around a while but haven't posted much steadysoul. Hope to see you around more. Cheers!

[CS707]

It’s not just the NBA. Watch an NFL game. Offensive holding and pick plays are rampant. Receivers embellish contact with the best of them. Scoreboard sells.