Just read the article on espn about Kevin Loves suspension. One thing struck me as odd, I never knew refs really watched film DURING the season. It strikes me as odd, because, the objection of being a ref to my understanding is upholding the law of the rulebook. Just wondering if any one feels like this is leads to rules being bended for certain players. If refs their selves label players dirty/upstanding guys. In my opinion, I think it is a bunch of horse crap for refs who are suppose to be unbiased, studying film on players/games/coaches.
Well, they probably also get a ton of hate from fans, media, etc, about how they missed a call somewhere, or called a foul when there really wasn't one. And yeah, I guess there is definitely bias, in that refs might label someone as "flopper" or "angry/tempermental." Overall though, I don't think they're doing it for that reason, but rather, they also want to better their craft through watching film.
You don't think the refs are watching film to maaaaybe assess their own performances/ those of their peers??
They are proven to be cheating gamblers, then watching film can only be all bad. Just kidding....but not really
The refs don't study video. They have to be forced to watch their own mistakes. If they studied video, they'd be calling traveling on Kobe and the other superstars ad nauseum and cleaning up the games, making them more legitimate by eliminating flopping, etc. There's nothing that irks me more than Kobe, Wade, etc. dragging that pivot foot around all over the floor like Blackbeard and his wooden leg and it's never called but it's called every time on the rest of the league. Combine that with the fact that the officials will not call offensive fouls consistently and the league has developed the "you gotta sell it" mentality on offensive fouls as a result and you got what we have today, a bunch of Hollywood actors out there flopping around and hollering and alleged superstars dragging their pivot foot from the 3-point line all the way to the rim. They don't use the principle of verticality and positioning to call offensive fouls. They use the thud of the flop on the hardwood and the accompanying scream to call it. They don't use the pivot foot moving to call traveling. They use the name on the back of the jersey. The officials don't study video and the league office doesn't study video except when they are sent video from teams complaining about certain calls. The league is not interested in calling the game by the rules. They're interested in TV ratings and butts in the seats.
I don't see how it could be a bad thing for refs to study video. They'' review their games, see the blown calls they've made and hopefully do better in the future. If they watch a particular player and see that he usually travels on a certain move so they can be on the look-out for it, I don't see that as a bad thing either. The only thing that makes whistling violations a bad thing is all the violations that don't get whistles.
I just see it as a conflict of interest to the sport. And gives lead way to enforce the rules in a way which is contradicting to the actual written rules. in short, refs are not on the same comprehension level about the rules as everyone else is. You see it night in and night out with coaches and refs.
I agree in that it's good, in theory, for refs to review games to further improve themselves. But I do wonder why some refs continuously fall for flops and insist on giving superstar treatment. Something is definitely goings on.
You can infer there's foul play and conspiracy into ANY kind of intent. NBA seems to bring conflict-of-interest matters onto themselves. Though I don't see refs reviewing film in the same way TEAMS review film to get some kind of "competitive" advantage. Like Lowry and Budinger studying film for Rockets, NBA refs for Team Stern.
I think its great if they study film! It should increase their awarness and help them do a better job - and they need all the help they can get!
I'm not trying to scream conspiracy on any thing. I just feel like it opens up lead way for individual refs to build their own idea's during the season. I wouldn't have any problem with it if refs on a nightly basis were getting calls right, when they should. Watch any nba game, every game I see now I have a coach schooling a ref on what the rules actual are. Then you see the refs trying to justify their calls. I think the cause of this, is over examination of the game from watching film. In the article Kevin Love stats that refs watch more film than players do. It does give a chance for refs to watch where some calls were missed, or bad calls. But it also gives the refs room to cover up agenda's and intentions if it comes to that. I think refs watching film during the season is tacky, and they should know the rules enough that they would not need videos. It just gives so much room to be biased towards teams, especially big market teams. I may be the only one on this, but I just don't see it good for the game. they been doing it for years apparently, and they still have horrible, horrible, horrible decisions being made by refs.
Clearly so. Everybody else is thinking that it would be smart to watch film to improve your play calling. Players watch tape to improve their game, so do the refs. You are looking waaaaaay to deep into simple call calling. Everyone who wants to improve must see first what they need to improve. I bet the ref with Scola will think twice before letting blatant calls like that go again.
