Quoting: aadoyle
Actually you could argue it is kind of new NBA officiating has been worse than it has in years. We have seen issues but this year they have taken 2 steps back and even analysts are seeing it. Its like everyone forgot the book lul
Maybe AI would fix or maybe we need a new cast of guys yearly. As to me for all sports AI or certain technologies need to start being implemented. That way we know a goal actually happened or a play is actually a fowl or not.
But yea basically gotten so bad to where players and specific refs be beefing. Not a team or anything specific guys. And then when they say something bad or try to argue nah another free throw for the opposing team
Closest thing we have seen is when Rangers called out DOPS or coaches getting thrown out
But yea never thought a league would surpass NHL in bad officiating lul
I'd be in favor of rotating officials' locations. It's too easy to remember "that thing from that game" when you were also in that game.
Communication also needs to be improved between refs, players, and coaches.
There's too much verbal abuse between parties. It isn't necessary and it makes things more personal.
I don't know what you expect to achieve by shouting at a ref "You are &$%^ing blind!".
If a ref is doing a poor job, that's an accountability issue which should be addressed after every game.
Before any of that however, there needs to be more consistency in officiating. The NHL makes that nearly impossible with how they set the rules and apply them.
There's no clear standard for things like goaltender interference or DoPS measures. The rules need to apply every time, not based on game situation.
A crosscheck in the first minute of the game when the score is 0-0 needs to be called the same as a crosscheck when it's 5-0 midway through the 3rd.
If one team legitimately takes 20 penalties and the other takes 3, that's not the refs' issue to resolve. To hell with "balancing" penalties. That's a big cause of non-calls and soft calls.
The referees should not be put in a position where they are expected to "even things out" in the first place. That's up to the teams to figure out.