The NBA Proposed Changes to the Instant Replay: Take a side?

October 5, 2008 – Dr. Dime

Techno geeks like me are loving the NBA proposal we all heard about this weekend on ESPN that is being voted on until October 10th by all the league franchises. Why shouldn’t a professional basketball league use whatever means possible to ensure the right call is made? I would understand opposition to the changes if referees started abusing the privilege by using an instant reply on multiple calls during the game where a referee should be making a personal interpretation in real-time such as a charging call, a regular foul or out of bounds call. In such a case you wouldn’t want the game stopped on certain possessions slowing down the action which may stop a swing in momentum from one team to another. Here are the details of the two proposed rule changes as reported by ESPN:

1. To allow game officials to use instant replay at any point during a game to determine (i) whether a successful field goal was correctly scored as a 2-point or 3-point field goal and (ii) whether, for purposes of awarding the correct number of free throws, an unsuccessful field goal attempt on which the shooter was fouled was a 2-point or 3-point attempt.

2. To allow the game officials to use instant replay when the game clock malfunctions during a play concluding with no time remaining on the clock (0:00) at the end of any quarter or overtime period.

Here’s what Slam Online had to say about the proposal:

There’s little doubt the second proposal is responding to an unavoidable gaffe during Game 2 of the Detroit-Orlando series last May. The game clock stopped at 4.8 seconds while play continued. Chauncey Billups sank a 3-pointer to give the Pistons the lead and momentum swing. However, replays proved the basket shouldn’t have counted.

But what do NBA fans think about the proposals to allow referees to use instant replays at any point during the game? I guess it depends on which end of the correct call your favorite team is on, huh? Leave us your thoughts in the comment section below regarding the NBA proposed instant replay changes.