Paulo-Kennedy-Column
22/08/2014
Paulo Kennedy's view from Downunder
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Let's talk about refs, baby

MELBOURNE (Paulo Kennedy's View from Downunder) - It's been great watching some of the lead-up matches for the FIBA Basketball World Cup.

The Aussies have been steadily going along, building nicely without any unexpected results. The Tall Blacks have been ultra-competitive despite being without a centre.

One of the few things I haven't enjoyed is seeing those cynical intentional fouls that are constantly used to stop fast breaks.

If I had one wish ahead of Spain 2014, it is a severe crackdown on players who are not in defensive position - or anywhere near it - grabbing a player for this reason and robbing fans of exciting basketball.

For me, that would be a massive step in the right direction.

That got me thinking of the NBL's quantum leap in officiating last season, where the work of the reffing team - bosses and whistle-blowers - helped transform the product.

A huge amount of credit should be given to these traditionally unpopular men and women for their efforts.

This season I think there is a chance to further institute cultural change in the way the game is called Downunder, rather than it just being a short-lived phase.

Here's what I think the NBL should be aiming for, and indeed basketball around the globe if we want our sport to appeal to new generations as much, if not more, than soccer and each region's predominant sports.

Contact on the cutter - the NBL got this pretty right last year. Call it tight, put the onus on the defender to defend using their feet, and also punish offensive players who blatantly push off.

Post defence - after a confusing start, this was again reffed well last season. Quite simply, a single armbar is allowed on a back-to-the-basket play.

Improvements can be made in not punishing big guys whose weight and strength knocks over a defender without taking their ground.

Reaching - the crackdown in this area was arguably the biggest factor in opening up the game, and I hope we see more of the same. There is some pain early, but once defenders adjust the rewards are clear.

Taking space - NBL defenders had become experts at getting up-and-in offensive players' cylinders, crowding their bodies to take away space to operate. Referees did a good job of cutting this back last season but it can be tightened up again.

Space allows talented players to make talented plays, and they are entitled to it under the rules.

Re-establishing position - there is often confusion Downunder about whether defenders can be moving when they take a charge. The rules allow a defender who has established position in front of the offensive player to adjust that position by moving sideways or backwards.

Early last season this was called very poorly in the NBL, with legitimate defence being called a block, and retreating positional defenders mysteriously called for pushes!

Things improved somewhat, but if you want real contests players have to be able to defend. As Boomers coach Andrej Lemanis said at the time, "The defender has to be allowed to be on the court".

Sure, once the offensive player gets to the side of the defender they have to cede way, but they should not be punished for absorbing contact to the torso.

Help defenders' position - this is an area we have long got wrong in Australia, and despite the most welcome "if in doubt it's a block" declaration from NBL ref bosses last season, it only improved marginally.

Too often we see a help defender, who had not previously established legal position, lunging sideways in front of an offensive player or stepping under an airborne attacker and being rewarded with a charge.

This is where blocks need to be called more often, as they are internationally, rather than waving play on. Unless the help defender has clearly established position first, they should be penalised.

I think the difference in these last two points is something we need to drill into our referees from a young age.

Flopping - the NBL has signalled a major crackdown by refs on flopping this season. While I agree with most of the refereeing directions issued in the past year, I think this is a major misstep.

The reffing crew showed they are very capable of following the clear majority of Points of Emphasis last season, even if it took a little time as expected, but their grasp on adjudicating flops was poor.

Defenders who were struck in the chest, stumbled backwards but kept their feet were warned for flopping. In other cases players who basically planked and fell over at the slightest contact were given the ok.

In the WNBL, Bec Cole was warned for flopping when she ran into a brutal screen she didn't see coming!

For me, refs have enough to worry about when it comes to deciding charge, block or no call. If a defender flops they are penalised by being on the ground while their opponent remains upright, and possibly being whistled if contact is made while prone.

Punishments should be decided by someone analysing video tape in the cool light of day, with the subsequent public sanction a strong deterrent for repeat offences.

Blocked shots - in most places around the world, a clean block up top excuses a lot of contact down below, especially if the contact occurs after the block.

With help defenders who slide underneath penalised, but those who attempt blocks often given the benefit of the doubt, many other competitions encourage athletic, aerial play.

For some reason we have it the other way around Downunder. A change to this would be welcomed by players, fans and highlight reels.

In summing up, I highly commend the NBL for the steps they have taken to improve the spectacle, and I highly recommend they focus on areas that can allow for more exciting and athletic play, rather than forcing referees to be the guardians of flopping.

And I hope FIBA stops the cheap open-court fouls…

Paulo Kennedy

FIBA

FIBA's columnists write on a wide range of topics relating to basketball that are of interest to them. The opinions they express are their own and in no way reflect those of FIBA.

FIBA takes no responsibility and gives no guarantees, warranties or representations, implied or otherwise, for the content or accuracy of the content and opinion expressed in the above article.

Paulo Kennedy

Paulo Kennedy

Paulo has joined our team of columnists with a weekly column called 'The View from Downunder', where he looks at pertinent issues in the world of basketball from an Oceania perspective, perhaps different to the predominant points of view from columnists in North America and Europe.