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Your Take

Referees lead list of complaints about state of the NBA

Posted: Tuesday June 29, 1999 02:21 PM

Some users think referees should enforce the rules more, while others think there are too many fouls called aready. Vincent Laforet/Allsport

CNN/SI asked users for their suggestions about what NBA officials should do to improve the state of professional basketball as a strike-shortened season comes to an end. Submissions showed concerns about officiating, fouls and player attitude, though some participants had more radical solutions for improving the sport. Some of the most interesting responses are given below.

The single biggest improvement would be for officials to consistently enforce rules and impose fouls without unfair deference to star players or discrimination against rookies. This practice is not only obvious but also openly acknowledged as a fact of life by sportscasters and players...called "paying your dues." It's not fair.
-- J. Beaton, Mesa, Ariz.

Basketball to me should be a game of skill and finesse not brute strength and definitely not as physical as football. Enforce to a greater degree the "no hand checking rule", restrict body contact, and be more consistent when calling 3 second violation. Also set an age limit for players entering the NBA.
-- Charles Shahid, Columbus, Ohio

The league should recommend making the court dimensions a few feet wider and longer. The average size and strength of NBA athletes has increased, leaving lanes to the basket very congested. Spreading players out a little bit more would help. Clean up contact beneath and around the basket as well.
-- Kenneth Kim, Los Angeles, Calif.

Implement the intentional foul rule as in college basketball where if a player gets fouled intentionally the offensive team gets two shots plus the ball back. This will stop all of the fouling that is going on which stops the flow of the game. This should also be enforced for back-court fouls intentional or not where players foul the offense to stop fast breaks.
-- Benny Ching, Los Angeles, Calif.

There is only one area of the NBA that needs improvement and that is the length of the season and post-season. If the regular season were shortened by 10 to 20 games and the first round of the playoffs eliminated, the NBA would be much more exciting.
-- Richard Cullen, Pacific Grove, Calif.

Foul calling needs to be seriously re-evaluated by the NBA next season. Fouls are called so often that there is no flow to the game; this makes the game frustrating to watch. Referees should just use more common sense; if the foul is not excessive and does not affect the play, hold your whistles.
-- Todd Saville, Plano, Texas

Shooting has become very poor. Players like Chris Dudley are rewarded for standing at the top of the key and drawing their defender away, even though there is no reason for anyone to guard Dudley when he is more than 3 feet from the basket. So I think it is time for the zone defense to be allowed. It would reward good shooters and make poor offensive players an even greater liability.
-- James Rudd, Boston, Mass.

Start calling fouls, traveling, 3 second violations, palming the ball, etc. The game does have rules. It will also get rid of some of the ridiculous behavior when players know they can't get away with ignoring the rules. The game is a beautiful thing to watch when played well. When the mugging goes on, taking 5 steps to the basket, camping out under the rim, carrying the ball instead of dribbling, it takes away pure talent. It's really simple, start enforcing the rules.
-- Steve Garrison, Cincinatti, Ohio

I think that the NBA has to recognize that they have diluted the available talent due to the number of teams in the league, and then they have further compromised the quality of play by taking under qualified and under prepared players into the league. Tim Duncan completed his time as a college player, and it shows in the quality of his game. When will they owners learn that quality players take time to develop, and the best place for their development is in college basketball?
-- Pat O'Doherty, Bethania, N.C.

What is wrong with the NBA? So scoring is down, there's no Michael Jordan, and the Finals ratings are low. We had Vince Carter and Jayson Williams, a wide-open Eastern Conference, a surprising Western Conference, and a new power from San Antonio. Nothing wrong with that. Michael was nice, but now at least we will have fun watching someone else win the title. Keep things the way they are. The only rule I see as reasonable is an age limit on entering the NBA. Don't force kids to go to college, though. Try using the CBA as a farm league for young talent.
-- Dave Cothran, Salt Lake City, Utah

Let the players determine the outcome of the games! How many times have you heard the expression "a veteran of his status will get that call every time"? Why should he get that call? I can tell you why, because he no longer has the talent to compete with the young guys without the help of someone in a striped shirt.
-- Keith A. Davis, St. Louis, Miss.

I can sum up the NBA's problems in approximately 15 words or less. Lack of enforcement of the rules of the game and overpaid teenagers. The lack of respect for the game and referees is very evident and enforcement of the basic rules doesn't exist (when was the last time a 3 second lane violation was called?).
-- Doug Adams, Rockford, Ill.

I think the shot clock should be reduced to 20 seconds. There should be no illegal defense, they only have 20 seconds to shoot anyway. These are big boys and don't need excuses. Players should be fined for lackluster play. The regular season is ho-hum. The only excitement is in the playoffs. Increase the number of fouls to 7. Hard play is the hallmark of the NBA.
-- David Stephens, Danville, Va.