Basketball is an extremely fast-paced sport. Often, the human eye cannot grasp the quick moves of these god-like athletes. Not only viewers may be confused, but the officials too! Thankfully, we have the technology which records every NBA game and we can rewatch the most glorious actions.
The NBA referees sometimes can’t make the decision if some of the players’ moves were legal or if there was a violation, so they use instant replay to review the game. But as with everything, instant replay has its own rules. The officials cannot spontaneously trigger it. There are regulations in place that improve the game flow and coordinate the actions of the referees.
How does NBA instant replay work?
There are specific cases in which the replay review is triggered automatically. First and foremost, the shots that are made after the game clock expires are under inspection. Famous buzzer-beaters are always under a magnifying glass. If a foul is committed when the game clock hits zero, it will also trigger instant replay, to evaluate the so-called state of the ball, whether it was dead or alive.
This may seem unnecessary but it is crucial to determine which foul has been committed. The state of the ball at the moment when the offense was made can leverage the game outcome because every foul has a different punishment.
The instant replay is particularly useful to check if the ball was in a clear way to the basket and if a personal foul was committed. The instant replay helps to determine which player should be awarded a free throw.
Instant replay reviews are also used when the officials aren’t sure if a player committed a flagrant foul or when they aren’t sure if the field goal was a three-pointer or a two-pointer.
When there is an altercation between the players like throwing punches at each other or anything that isn’t part of the game, the replay is necessary to examine who threw the first punch and how many players were actually involved in the fight.
The official also uses the replay when they think that the game clock might be broken, or when they are not sure which team should have possession of the ball when the ball gets out of bounds. They can also use it if they think that the game clock or shot clock needs adjustments in the final two minutes of the fourth period or any overtime period because they are unsure if the ball touched the rim, they can call for an instant replay.
Other triggers for instant replay:
- Officials believe that illegal contact has occurred in a block/charge foul, but they are not certain if the defensive player was inside of the restricted zone during the final two minutes of the fourth period or the last two minutes of any overtime period.
- In the last two minutes of the fourth period or in the last two minutes of any overtime session if officials are undecided if a goaltending or basket interference infraction was correctly called.
- If a defensive player commits an off-ball foul before the offensive player begins his shooting motion on a successful basket, officials are undecided if an off-ball foul occurred.
- When the ball is in play and officials aren’t sure whether a team has the proper amount of players on the court.
Instant Replay Rules
If there is uncertainty about whether the shot was timely or how many points it was worth or whether the 8-second rule was broken they will review the videotaped incident. The same rule applies to any unsportsmanlike behavior or any foul, especially when it comes to shooting fouls. It also helps determine which penalty will be admitted for a flagrant foul.
Replay Review Process
The on-court game officials cause replay reviews. All replays, with the exception of Flagrant Fouls and Conflicts, will be decided by the on-court authorities, with Replay Center personnel assisting.
In all circumstances, both team benches will be informed that the play will be reviewed. The Replay Center Official, the calling official, and sometimes a crew chief meet up at the scorers’ table and use a headset to watch the play again. The rest of the referees prepare players to go back into the game.
If the decision is to be made by the on-court officials, a crew chief and a second official will go to the scorer’s table and make the determination in conjunction with the Replay Center Official. The benches will be monitored by the third official.
They should manage to have a ruling in two minutes unless there was an altercation and there is more time needed. If the equipment doesn’t work properly, the officials will use a TV broadcast.
If a replay is utilized to determine if a foul was called prior to the end of the period, or if there’s any doubt whether the shooter committed a shot clock violation, 8-second violation, or boundary line violation where time may be added to the game clock, both teams will stay on the court at the conclusion of the second period. If a replay is employed at the end of the fourth period or overtime, both teams will stay on the court.
What is the role of the replay center in basketball?
Sometimes the referees can’t make the right decision on the court and the NBA Replay Center has to facilitate the ruling.
The referees on the court will still be responsible for triggering replay reviews. The final decision in some reviews, though, will be made by the referees in the Replay Center and then sent back to the on-court crew chief for the handling of the call. When the NBA Replay Center is involved, only the crew chief makes his way to the scoring table to make a revision of the videotape. It makes the whole process quicker and more precise.
Can you challenge in the last 2 minutes NBA?
The NBA tried to improve game flow for the 2021-22 season and forbade the officials to call for the video review during out-of-bounds violations committed during the last two minutes of the fourth quarter or the last two minutes of any overtime period.
