Game 2 Nba Finals Rapid Reaction

This had to be one of the worst officiated NBA games I have seen in a while. Bad Calls were made against both teams changing the entire dynamic of the game and often creating momentum for respective teams. Overall this years playoffs have shown without veteran referee Steve Javie the NBA lacks consistent refereeing. Many people have noticed it over the years and Stern continues to not address the issue.

Here are the biggest things players should understand going into a game:
1. In the restricted zone can I still put my hands up? - NBA Rule is :Yes you are still allowed to defend in the restricted zone as long as you jump up with your hands up. Problem referees do not know this call and often call blocks instead of non-calls. Also if offensive player tries to force contact it can still be an offensive foul. Most referees anticipate contact and usually call it on the defense.

2. Can a offensive foul be called on a player if he is in the air before the defender reaches the spot.- NBA Rule is: No. Problem: Athletes now a days can jump for a long time and many offensive fouls are called from a player landing after a pass or after a shot. If the player was in the air before the defender reached the spot or if the player has already shot or passed the referees should make it a no-call.

3. What contact is allowed in the post? - NBA Rule: Very vague but basically states defender is allowed to hold his ground no one is allowed to use upper body to gain position. Problem: Rule is vague and each referee calls it differently. Players flop on calls to exaggerate the call not making it any easier. But wouldn't be nice if the referee told players he will be calling x,y, and z any time they see it.

4. Contact allowed on screens. - NBA Rule: Pick must be set before offensive player starts moving toward it. NBA player can fight around screen but not directly through it. Screener can not stick out arms or elbows. Problem: When player is going around screen very hard to determine if foul is on screener or defender. Players like Ray Allen and Rip Hamilton are constantly moving when picks are set often they have started moving before the pick was set. No easy fix here.

5. Handcheck fouls. - NBA Rule: No hand checks in the perimeter of the court. Problem: What is a block and what is a no-call. When is it a reach in and when is it a clear steal? Problem: Judgement calls where referees will always have opinions. But each referee should make it clear the level of contact they allow. Foul trouble changes the entire game.

For all of the above problems one clear thing to make it easier on referees is my suggestion on stopping flopping. Once you clean up flops a lot of the problems above lower significantly. But next each referee should explain the rules on the highly disputed issues and any call they make should be justified by their pre-game comments.

This is a significant issue for people who think it is not the NBA finals 2010 game 2 is the perfect example. Kobe Bryant received 2 errant calls which translates too about 10-14 less minutes of action, Kobe turning into a pure jump shooter because of the scare of driving offensive fouls, and lower defensive intensity. Similarly Lamar Odom, Kevin Garnett, and Perkins were all in foul trouble due to several tossup post play foul calls. Significance Garnett never got in a rhythm, Bynum received extended minutes. All of these things significantly changes game 2. I am not arguing that the referees wanted the Celtics to win but I am saying their calls significantly affected the game and who knows who would have won had the game been better officiated. Both teams received bad calls but more then calls costing one or two points these calls changed the entire game play and often the momentum of the game. We can only hope the rest of the series is decided by the two teams and not the referees.