NBA: The rule to challenge calls and the pressure that is on the referees

Taking a look at how the rule to challenge calls has impacted the NBA and the pressure that it has brought upon officials

On November 6, the LA Clippers battled the Milwaukee Bucks at Staples Center – a game that was supposed to be headlined by Kawhi Leonard vs. Giannis Antetokounmpo. However, Kawhi was given the night off which was categorized as “load management.”

When the game ended, though, there was another headline that arose.

In the fourth quarter, right around 7:15 minute mark, a call was made that had a huge impact. With the Clippers in possession, an offensive foul was called on Lou Williams. Doc Rivers challenged the call, but it wasn’t overturned and the game continued. LA would go on to lose to the Bucks.

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"[via ESPN]“It was,” Rivers said. “They should’ve overturned it. That’s why I hate the rule. Nobody wants to be wrong. Let me just say that. You have to overturn that. Unless [Eric] Bledsoe fouled Lou with his face, there was no foul on that play.”"

Viewing the replay some can argue that Bledsoe flopped and that the call should be overturned, others could argue that the call was right.

Nevertheless, regardless of your opinion, the call was controversial and is one of many examples that one could argue for both sides.

Clippers vs. Rockets

The second example took place on the 16th of November when the Clippers battle the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center, the headlines were the duel between the superstar, Kawhi vs James Harden. Harden was coming off a 39-point performance and Kawhi was coming off playing his former team, the Raptors.

First, coach Rivers challenge a tried to challenge a turnover by Patrick Beverly, but the problem was that one of the referees told him that he hasn´t lost the timeout because he didn´t challenge in the first 30 seconds of making the call. The problem was a minute later he tried to call timeout but the referees tell him that he lost that timeout.

"“The refs screwed up,” Rivers told reporters. “I made a challenge (earlier in the game). They said I was right in the challenge, but I took over the 30-second time to call it. So, then the two refs walked over to me and told me, That that means you don’t win the challenge, but you get your timeout back.”"

The arena put the extra timeout back on the board

Tony Brothers, the lead referee, tell that that after the Clippers could not challenge the earlier turnover, they were incorrectly informed they would maintain their timeout. This miscommunication was a huge mistake because the outcome of the game could change, all for the challenge call.

Clippers vs. Thunder

The last example came on the 14th of November, the Clippers battled the Thunder in Staples Center, but there was a huge difference this time in the headlines. Kawhi was prepared to sit down his third straight game due to a knee contusion.

With only 7.3 seconds in the fourth quarter, Doc Rivers decided to challenge a foul that could have potentially cost the Thunder the game. The challenge overturned a reaching foul on forward Maurice Harkless against Danilo Gallinari. Rivers joked after the game and gave his new opinion on the rule.

"He said, “I’m changing my opinion…I think the challenge is good for the league, after all.”"

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With these examples in mind, we can view a pattern, from a controversial call to losing a timeout for misunderstanding to going to win a challenge and with that seal a win. The NBA created this new rule so people couldn´t blame the referees for the outcome of a game but the NBA never imagine the kind of pressure could be created on the referees and all the possible scenarios to the new rule.

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