Author: Monojit Mandal
According to Byron Spruell, the NBA’s president of basketball operations, the league is considering giving coaches a second opportunity to contest if the first one is successful. The issue was considered at a meeting of the NBA competitions committee on Thursday.
During the 2019-20 season, the coaches’ challenge was implemented, allowing coaches to request an instant replay review of certain decisions made by the referees, including personal fouls, out-of-bounds penalties and offenses of offside or basket interference. It is essential to remember that during the final two minutes of the fourth session and in extra time, referees can only initiate reviews of decisions on fouls out of bounds, offside and basket interference.
According to the current rules, coaches can only use one challenge per game. If a challenge is successful, the team keeps the time-out that was used to start the review. Coaches often hesitate to challenge calls at the start of the game in order to save the option for decisive moments in the final stages.
The proposed adjustment would allow teams to keep the time limit after completing a successful challenge and, at the same time, offer them an additional chance to challenge later in the game.
Before Game 3 of the NBA Finals, Miami-Heat coach Erik Spoelstra showed support for the idea, although he acknowledged the possibility of unforeseen repercussions.
Spruell acknowledged the desire for change and expressed interest in the end result. In addition, the league office is considering using the technology to ensure accurate and quick judgments on offside and goalkeeper calls during the last two minutes of games. During the NBA summer leagues, various technologies will be tested.
“We always want to get those calls right, and their timing and accuracy are important,” Spruell said.“Those are areas where they are more objective, and technology can analyze them, and the replay center can help with that.” So there is some chance that the technology will be observed in the replay center, first assisted and then able to make these calls to the referees on the court.
Now, with the passage of time, perhaps they will become more automated, as seen in tennis, baseball and even soccer. So we’re excited about the innovation and what it can bring, especially for our referees.”