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Ok, this isn't meant to argue about the the effects of the call, who would have won, etc. There are a number of threads on that being discussed ad nauseam.

I think everyone realizes that it was the wrong call, and the NBA has even released a statement admitting so.

The intent of this thread is discuss possible rule changes that would have prevented this, and could prevent such situations in the future.


I'll start out with two possible solutions:

1. It was stated that the refs could not review it because time had not run out off the clock; however, that was the problem! If the clock doesn't run then it is impossible to review it, since if it is not running, then it cannot run out.

Solution 1:

At the end of a quarter, if the reason that the clock does not reach :00 is because of a malfunction thus making it impossible to expire, then the play is reviewable.


2. In this case, and in all games, a coach is left helpless in these particular situations, they are merely limited to being an outside observer.

Solution 2:

Each coach receives one "Challenge" per game.

By limiting it to one challenge it doesn't significantly slow down the game, and each coach must then reserve it for when they think a significant error was made, rather than having multiple opportunities to challenge calls throughout the game.


To reiterate, this thread isn't meant to discuss the merits of the call and the effects on the game, but rather to discuss possible rule changes that would improve the chances of making correct calls in these types of situations.

They'll make a rule adjustment in the offseason, apologize to the league without mentioning Orlando specifically, and then Orlando will, through "sheer luck of the draw" end up with the easiest schedule in the NBA next year.

Or, if the Magic trade up for a higher draft pick, it will inexplicably be a top 3 pick, no matter what the odds of that happening legitimately are.

devin3807 wrote:I think everyone realizes that it was the wrong call, and the NBA has even released a statement admitting so.

Link it.

Because I read in the paper this morning that the officials followed the league rule stating that they cannot remove points scored during a shot clock situation due to human error. In other words, they did exactly what they were supposed to do.

DrunkOnMystery wrote:They'll make a rule adjustment in the offseason, apologize to the league without mentioning Orlando specifically, and then Orlando will, through "sheer luck of the draw" end up with the easiest schedule in the NBA next year.

Or, if the Magic trade up for a higher draft pick, it will inexplicably be a top 3 pick, no matter what the odds of that happening legitimately are.

Its Orlando, not the Knicks. Stern doesn't give a **** about them.

Manocad wrote:Link it.

Because I read in the paper this morning that the officials followed the league rule stating that they cannot remove points scored during a shot clock situation due to human error. In other words, they did exactly what they were supposed to do.

Hey Manocad,
There is a statement that the NBA issued saying that after review the play actually took 5.7 seconds but the refs had to make a judgement call and they followed proper procedure in handling the matter according to the leagues rules. At the end of the month they are going to look into expanding replay to handle situations like last night better in the future.

Here is a link:
http://www.nba.com/news/clock_statement_080506.html

Manocad wrote:-= original quote snipped =-


Link it.

Because I read in the paper this morning that the officials followed the league rule stating that they cannot remove points scored during a shot clock situation due to human error. In other words, they did exactly what they were supposed to do.

ESPN television.

Now, back on topic...

All I hear on ESPN is every analysis saying it was the right call to do what the refs did and ORL didn't get screwed in the game they lost it themselfs.

The Owners can look into this ruling in the off-season like they did on the Phnx-SA series and now there is leeway room for interpetation by the league whereas there was very little before.

It will be hard to put this situation in fine print though. It's either a DET inbounds the ball from a side out on in their back-court with 4.8 seconds or replay the entire 5.1. The NBA has to be carefull with this replay review power or soon this will the NFL and at the 2 minutes of every half we'll spend 10 minutes 5 of wich will be a ref looking at the replay on a controversial call. That would suck and kill the flow of the game the basketball was once known for.

devin3807 wrote:ESPN television.

Now, back on topic...

So you have no link to a statement where, in your words, the NBA admitted that it was the "wrong call"?

Which is what this topic is about, isn't it? A claim that an improperly handled situation cost a team a game?

The NBA issuing a statement that the play took 5.7 seconds is a lot different than stating that the officials made the wrong call.

Manocad wrote:The NBA issuing a statement that the play took 5.7 seconds is a lot different than stating that the officials made the wrong call.

Also states the refs could not have left the 4.8 or 5.1 seconds or whatever it may have been left on the clock after discovering the malfunction and forced the players to do the play over again. The statement says procedure was followed properly and will be later looked into.

Manocad wrote:So you have no link to a statement where, in your words, the NBA admitted that it was the "wrong call"?

I had no link because, as I already said, I saw it on my television.

When you show me how to link to my television, I will be happy to assist you.

Which is what this topic is about, isn't it? A claim that an improperly handled situation cost a team a game?

The NBA issuing a statement that the play took 5.7 seconds is a lot different than stating that the officials made the wrong call.

I said that it was the wrong call, and that the NBA released a statement saying so.

I did not say that the officials did not follow procedure; They made the wrong call, and this is a fact.

Now, back on topic...

Simple rule change, you're overthinking this.

In case of a clock malfunction (either game or shot clock) officials are allowed to consult a full-speed replay of the play and use an external clock to ensure the correct result (either amount of time left on the clock, or clock expired).

There, fixed. And something like this will be implemented next season.

devin3807 wrote:Solution 1:

At the end of a quarter, if the reason that the clock does not reach :00 is because of a malfunction thus making it impossible to expire, then the play is reviewable.

But how do they time it without the benefit of the on-screen clock? And how long would it take to do so? It was 20 minutes before TNT showed us that the shot took 5.2 seconds.

Can you rely on the video crew to get it right? TNT says 5.2 seconds. The NBA says 5.7 seconds. Why the difference? Can you trust the TV network to be impartial?

Do you factor in an allowance for a timekeeper's reflex? As I pointed out in the Series thread, it can take .3 seconds to get the button pressed and a properly controlled clock might have allowed that shot.

devin3807 wrote:I said that it was the wrong call, and that the NBA released a statement saying so.

I did not say that the officials did not follow procedure; They made the wrong call, and this is a fact.

Now, back on topic...

Verbatim from the statement:

"After reviewing the video of last night

I agree the Refs did not make a mistake in how they handled the situation. They did what they were supposed to do.

But the refs did make a mistake in incorrectly "estimating" the time that elapsed. But in no way should anyone be expected to be able to decide whether a play that took 5.7 seconds took 5.1 or less seconds. That's not humanly possible... and no one should have that expectation.

Grey wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



But how do they time it without the benefit of the on-screen clock? And how long would it take to do so? It was 20 minutes before TNT showed us that the shot took 5.2 seconds.

Stopwatch? I don't know, that's what this thread is about -- possible solutions.

TNT was able to reply it immediately, it was only later that they added an external clock to the bottom. A ref could have easily used the reply and an external timing device right away.

Can you rely on the video crew to get it right? TNT says 5.2 seconds. The NBA says 5.7 seconds. Why the difference? Can you trust the TV network to be impartial?

I don't know that they were necessarily saying that he released it with 5.2. I believe they were simply illustrating that the clock reach 5.2 (the minimum over required to be not within the time frame) before he shot.

Manocad wrote:
Sorry, bud. Nowhere in that statement does it say the refs made the wrong call.

Are you serious?

The NBA wrote:"After reviewing the video of last night