Knicks · Officiating in the NBA (page 1)

So after googling about NBA ref accountability and feeling wholly unsatisfied, I decided to ask the NBA about it. The following is the email exchange (names redacted)

Bottom line. Accountability is a joke, as are the responses about accountability. The league should be ashamed both for its officiating and its canned responses.

------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear XXXX,

Thanks for contacting us with your comments on NBA officiating during the Dec. 25 game between the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics.

We take the performance of our referees very seriously. They are subject to incredible scrutiny by the league, which includes tracking every call they make and holding them to the most rigorous standards in all of sports. We strive to ensure that NBA games are officiated at the highest possible level, while at the same time understanding that perfection is an unattainable goal.

You can find more information about the league’s commitment to transparency in its officiating program at www.NBA.com/official.

Thanks again for writing us. We appreciate your sharing your views.

Sincerely,

Catriona Quinn
NBA Fan Relations

From: XXXX XXXXX [mailto:XXXXXXXX]
Sent: Tuesday, December 27, 2016 10:30 AM
To: NBA Letters
Subject: NBA Contact Form Submission - Officiating in the NBA

From: XXXXX XXXXXXX Subject: NBA Contact Form Submission
Topic: Officiating in the NBA
Message Body:
i have been a basketball fan for over 40 years. This year's officiating seems worse than typical (see, e.g., Celts vs. Boston — either game this year). This xmas for example the refs completely blew a goal tending call by Horford which resulted in a 5 point swing, and then incongrously called a jump ball on a clean block by Kristaps which negated a fast break. These were crucial given the eventual score. Why is there only a report for the last 2 minutes, as opposed to the whole game (each basket counts the same regardless of time)? Also, what measures are taken to get rid of the bad refs (Brothers comes to mind but there are several)?

Thanks for being proactive. I was listening to talk radio this morning and they were talking about two calls in the Cavs/Warriors game. The tech on Jefferson for winking after his dunk and the non tech on LBJ when he was doing pull ups on the rim after a dunk. You can't apply the rules subjectively and that Jefferson call was ridiculous.

Dude the refs do what they are told to do. It's a shim sham. It's the league and what they want it was never more evident than pushing finals for a game seven so media company can get what they want.

anyone see Karl's (yeah I know...) comments concerning refs fixing games

Chandler wrote:anyone see Karl's (yeah I know...) comments concerning refs fixing games

No. Link please

RicanHavok wrote:

Chandler wrote:anyone see Karl's (yeah I know...) comments concerning refs fixing games

No. Link please

http://nypost.com/2016/12/29/george-karl-sounds-more-deranged-every-day/

Two famous Wade "calls." One against KP, the other against the Spurs. Don't know anything about this show, but the woman has not issue calling Wade and the officiating out.

SO last night i again complained to NBA (not even the 5 second violation). NBA responded how serious they are about refs with the identical response (though from a different fan relations professional). As you'll see they appreciate our sharing our views. I would commend you to tell the NBA how much the refs suck, and how poor they are about accountability

------------------------------

From: XXX XXXX Subject: NBA Contact Form Submission
Topic: Officiating in the NBA
Message Body:
The refs continue to stink. Knicks get jobbed again. 31-12 in FTs. Rose gets mauled at end of game and the refs know it watching replay.
We fans can't take nba or ref accountability seriously anymore. You keep clowns on the ref payroll, fixing games (see George Karl) and you don't even apologize to the fans when the refs blow it. Even the nfl does that, and they hire part timers.
Disgusting and embarrassing compounded by charging obscene ticket prices.
And then to hear refs whine about 2 minute report?!? Unacceptable

---------------------

From: NBA Letters <nba-letters-l@nba.com>
Date: January 5, 2017 at 5:24:11 PM EST
To: "xxxx@gmail.com" <xxxxx@gmail.com>
Subject: RE: NBA Contact Form Submission - Officiating in the NBA
Dear xxxxx,

Thanks for contacting us regarding the Jan 4 game between the New York Knicks and Milwaukee Bucks.

We take the performance of our referees very seriously. They are subject to incredible scrutiny by the league, which includes tracking every call they make and holding them to the most rigorous standard in all of sports. We strive to ensure that NBA games are officiated at the highest possible level, while at the same time understanding that perfection is an unattainable goal.

The NBA is also committed to transparency in its officiating program. The league shares with fans and the media play-by-play reports regarding all calls and material non-calls that occur in the last two minutes of close games and during entire overtime periods. You can review the NBA’s assessment of this particular game in the “Last Two Minute Report” here.

Thanks again for writing us. We appreciate your sharing your views.

Sincerely,

Christian Bonoan
NBA Fan Relations