MIES (Switzerland) - Experts analyze all Basketball Champions League, powered by Ameresco SUNEL games each week. In order to improve the understanding of referees' decisions and to increase transparency, we publish some of those Tough Calls, along with an explanation.
TC1: Galatasaray MCT Technic vs. Fitness First Wurzburg Baskets - Game clock reset
Near the end of the game, Black #5 attempts a successful three-point shot. The ball enters the basket approximately at the same time as the red light on the backboard flashes and the game clock signal sounds for the end of the playing time.
The referees award the basket and decide to use the IRS to identify if there should be any time remaining on the game clock to be played.
Article 49.2: The timer shall stop the game clock when:
A goal is scored when the game clock shows 2:00 minutes or less in the fourth quarter and in each overtime.
Article 16.1.1: A goal is made when a live ball enters the basket from above and remains within or passes through the basket entirely.
Outcome: Correct decision by the referees. When the ball passed through the basket entirely, the game clock was showing 0.2 seconds.
TC2: Rytas Vilnius vs. Promitheas Patras BC Vikos Cola - Blocking foul
White #29 receives a pass and goes to the basket when a contact with Red #21 occurs. The referee calls an offensive foul on White #29 for charging.
Article 33.4: When judging a charge/block situation involving a player with the ball, a referee shall use the following principles:
The defensive player must establish an initial legal guarding position by facing the player with the ball and having both feet on the court.
The defensive player may remain stationary, jump vertically, move laterally or move backwards in order to maintain the initial legal guarding position.
When moving to maintain the initial legal guarding position, one foot or both feet may be off the court for an instant, as long as the movement is lateral or backwards, but not towards the player with the ball.
Contact must occur on the torso, in which case the defensive player would be considered as having been at the place of contact first.
Having established a legal guarding position, the defensive player may turn within the cylinder to avoid injury.
Outcome: Incorrect decision by the referee. Red #21 committed a blocking foul as he was late and the contact did not occur on his torso.
TC3: Joventut Badalona vs. Bursaspor Basketbol - Unsportsmanlike foul
Green #9 taps the ball and tries to start a fastbreak when a contact, with White #0, occurs. The referee calls a personal foul on White #0 and, after a short discussion amongst the crew, decide to upgrade it to an Unsportsmanlike Foul.
Article 37.1.1: An unsportsmanlike foul is a player contact which is:
Criteria 1: Contact with an opponent not legitimately attempting to directly play the ball within the spirit and intent of the rules.
Criteria 4: An illegal contact caused by a player from behind or laterally on an opponent, who is progressing towards the opponent’s basket and with no opponents between the progressing player and the basket, and - the progressing player is in control of the ball, or - the progressing player is attempting to gain control of the ball, or - the ball has been released on a pass to the progressing player.
This applies until the offensive player starts the act of shooting.
Outcome: Correct decision by the referees. The contact created by White #0 met two of the criteria to be considered an Unsportsmanlike Foul.
The contact created by White #0 was not a legitimate attempt to directly play the ball within the spirit and intent of the rules.
Moreover, it was created from behind on Green #9, who was progressing towards the White teams basket, whilst attempting to gain control of the ball.