Are the NBA’s referees the league’s biggest problem?

Are the referees the NBA’s biggest problem? 

Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet surprised many with his postgame comments about the officiating after their recent loss to the LA Clippers. The NBA and commissioner Adam Silver have put rules in place designed to deter players from being critical of the refs but Van Vleet took the onus upon himself to speak about what many players probably are scared to say or can’t afford to speak about.

He definitely got his point across with his profanity-laced dialogue and let’s also give VanVleet credit for bringing awareness to an issue that needs to be addressed despite the consequences he was more than willing to accept. VanVleet had the courage to come out and speak his mind but does he have the support of his peers?

The big question is whether there’s a majority of the players in the NBA that feel similarly about the officiating as VanVleet does.

Will Fred VanVleet’s comments about the NBA officiating spark change?

Will any of the superstars around the league have the courage to speak up in support of VanVleet? It’s likely not going to happen with the possibility of being disciplined by the league and also the fact that star players are mostly the beneficiaries of most of those incorrect calls they make.

It’s never good whenever the refs are left to determine the outcome of a game with an egregious call, especially in crunch time of close games. It has to be frustrating for the players to go out and play their tails off only to have the refs make a terrible call that decides the outcome. This has been a recurring problem in the league and Silver has to figure out a solution to the problem but what can you do it’s personal between the player and the ref similar to VanVleet’s current dilemma?

If there is speculation that something personal is going on between a player and a ref then the league should take a closer look at how the refs are conducting themselves. If VanVleet’s claims are found to be legitimate then the NBA should launch an investigation and rescind his fine. Let’s just take a look at the stats because numbers don’t lie.

Ben Taylor, the referee whom VanVleet was referring to in his press conference officiated six games VanVleet played in, and five of the total eight technical fouls he received this season came in the games officiated by Taylor, so perhaps VanVleet’s point has some validity.

Many believe he was just ranting and overreacting but based on those numbers there appears to be some truth to his claims. The officiating around the league has been questionable all season and players have been receiving technical fouls for just simply clapping their hands or simply expressing emotion or frustration.

Players are going to complain and show emotion throughout the games and at times fans just wish the players would ignore the refs and just play ball but it’s hard for them to do that when the refs have been equally bad with the amount of missed calls.

The NBA needs to address this problem and it has to be done quickly before it becomes a bigger problem going into the postseason.