I guess I'm the only person here who feels it's stupid for players to argue EVERY SINGLE ******* CALL EVER MADE. There's a complaint about every call, legit or not. Every time Kobe shoots and the whistle doesn't blow, he complains. Every time Battier falls down and doesn't get a charge, he complains. It's like the story of how if you yell at your kids for every minor mistake he makes, you can't make a point when truly makes a big one. If players actually keep their complaints to a moderate level, they can make more impact on officials and might actually help them get things cleared up. At least IMO. That said, the NBA has more pressing issues. Like stop ISO basketball where players run into the paint to get fouled. That's not basketball. That's unwatchable stuff. Just because you make it so defenders can't even sneeze without fouling doesn't mean it makes for more fluid, beautiful play.
the unfortunate reality is, however, that this rule will not be applied equally amongst the players. the nightly sportscenter stars who the league promotes and selects nationally televised games for will still get to b**** at any and all refs nonstop, while the average matt barnes or marc gasol type is gonna get T'd up for raising an eyelid after a bad call
Hopefully the refs can distinguish the type of emotion a player might show. The refs need to know if the emotional is just the heat of the moment thing or actually displayed against them. If they can do that, this might be a good thing. So far however, I only see bad things happening. Coaches, players, and even announcers are going to be complaining about the "light" technical fouls that are inevitably going to be called.
It's also the HARDEST officiated sport in the world. One that's not helped by players making their case to the refs every breakage of play down the court. I generally dislike refs acting like they're celebrities, but in this case I side with them.
Great. More whistles and time at the free throw line... Yes NBA, you are in tune to what the fans want.
I actually agree with two of these, the first and the third. I hate it when Kobe starts throwing fists because he thinks there was a missed call or when Rasheed goes running across the court chasing a ref. The second one I disagree with. I think it's pretty stupid that players will still be allowed those "heat of the moment" reactions, but they can't demonstrate that they were fouled. The one about not being allowed to talk to the refs in a civilized tone seems like it could easily be abused. I understand that if the ref says to drop it, the player should, but I just don't think this will be used fairly at all.
Just like the flop rule they put up they won't be handing out techs like people think. If they took this rule seriously Kobe would most likely get ejected every single game since he always jumps in the air and swings his arm when he doesn't get a call.
This is good for the Rockets. Their players are too soft and not ghetto-manly enough to complain that often. They also shoot FTs at a high %.
Then you haven't watched FIBA, which makes NBA referees look like perfectionists. What they should have done instead is make technical fouls count as personal fouls.
I think these rules are all fantastic for the NBA. This is just what is needed. The NBA: Where Tampons Happen.
I understand the spirit of these guidelines, but at the same time I can see more objectivity going right out the window with many of the possible subjective interpretations by any given ref. Of course, it's like that already (objective vs subjective calls), but some of these guidelines seem to have the potential to easily make things worse rather than better. Make the wrong face at the wrong time and possibly cost your team the game. I guess we'll see.
It's really ridiculous that the league is so stubborn on protecting its refs. I pray that one day the situation is gonna be too unbearable for the players and fans watching that the players will just start ignoring the refs. They'll play like pick up game rules where you call your own fouls and everything. Let the refs blow the whistle until their heads explode (hopefully literally) and the players will just keep playing like aint nobody there. Maybe then Sperm and the league will listen to us and reevaluate the refs and the ridiculous rules.
The Jordan, Bird, Magic, Barkley and Dream era is over... Get back to letting the players get loud and passionate on the court. I don't want to watch a league of Grant Hills, as much as I like me some Grant Hill...
