When is a basket not a basket?

The "Basketball for Thought" is a commentary by Kris Gardner.

April 1998

Answer: when 3 officials and commissioner David Stern say so.

Sunday, April 12, the Knicks apparently defeated the Miami Heat 83 - 82, on a last second rebound by G Allan Houston. Replays showed Allan scored the basket with 2 tenths of a second on the clock. However, officials disagreed. They huddled after the shot for 30 seconds to determine if they were all in agreement. They were. Basket disallowed. Miami wins 82 - 81.

The Knicks filed a protest with the league office claiming a clock malfunction was the determining factor in the refs' decision. They argued the red light came on with 1 tenth showing which may have caused the officials to react early. (Truth be told, the light came on with at least 2 tenths showing.) The commissioner didn't disagree with the Knicks. He just didn't overturn the decision.

While concluding on the basis of videotape replay that the officials made the wrong call, Stern determined that the error was one of judgment, not a misapplication of the rules, and therefore not an adequate ground to support a protest. The determination as to whether a ball is shot prior to the expiration of time, Stern stated in his opinion, is "an archetypal example of a judgment call."

Stern also stressed that the NBA does not have a "replay rule" that allows for review of the videotape upon protest by the losing team. "The Board of Governors has not seen fit to adopt such a rule," the Commissioner stated, "although the subject has been considered from time to time. Until it does so, such is not the function of the League Office."

First of all, I disagree that it was a judgment call. A clock was involved; not a foul or a violation of the rules. The basket either was made before the clock expired or after. The clock provides tangible proof. This wasn't a charge or block call. Period. No gray area here.

Secondly, it's time the league allows officials to use replay when dealing with issues involving the clock. It's sad that the entire viewing audience could see replays showing the basket should be allowed and not the 3 most important people -- the referees calling the game! Ironically, the officials viewed the replays in the locker after the game; but, of course, it was too late to make the correction.

In this high tech day and age, it should not be very difficult or time consuming to allow the referees the opportunity to clarify or correct a call when it involves the clock. I'm not advocating lessening the authority of the refs. I just believe if someone makes a mistake and there is an opportunity to correct the mistake; then, the mistake needs to be corrected. I have a very simple proposal: the refs should be allowed to use replay when the clock is under 2 seconds in the 4th quarter if a play is in question. Simple. No muss. No fuss. Beyond that, the officials can make all the judgment calls they desire. Someone will always be upset with a "judgment" call anyway.