MIES (Switzerland) - Experts analyze all BCL games each week. In order to improve the understanding of referees' decisions and to increase transparency, we publish some of those Tough Calls, along with an explanation.
TC1: Manisa Basket Divissa vs. Unicaja - Interference
White #35 receives a pass under the basket and shoots. Green #45 jumps to try and block the shot and the play continues.
Article 31.2.4: Interference occurs when:
A player causes the basket to vibrate or grasps the basket (ring and/or net) in such a way that causes the ball to take an unnatural bounce or to change direction, thus the ball is prevented from entering the basket or is caused to enter the basket.
Outcome: Incorrect decision by the referees. Green #45 committed a basketball interference as he made the basket vibrate with his touch of the ring and the ball changed direction. Two points should have been awarded to White #35.
TC2: ERA Nymburk vs. Falco-Vulcano Szombathely - Backcourt violation
White #11 attempts a three-point shot, which is unsuccessful. The ball rebounds, Black #25 grabs it, then White #73 taps it away, touches the ball again and goes to the backcourt. The referees call a backcourt violation.
Article 14.1.3: Team control ends when:
The ball has left the player's hand(s) on a shot for a goal or for a free throw.
Article 14.1.1: Team control starts when a player of that team is in control of a live ball by holding or dribbling it.
Article 30.1.2: A team in control of a live ball in the frontcourt has illegally returned the ball to its backcourt, if a player of that team is the last to touch the ball in the frontcourt and the ball is then first touched by a player of that team:
Who has part of the body in contact with the backcourt, or
After the ball has touched the backcourt of that team.
Outcome: Incorrect decision by the referees. After the shot, the White team lost the control of the ball. White #73 tap and touch of the ball does not constitute a new team control. Therefore, the White team did not have the control of the ball in its frontcourt, and so, a backcourt violation cannot occur. The game should have continued.
TC3: BAXI Manresa vs. Pallacanestro Reggiana - Charge without the ball
Red #97 receives the ball and jumps to make a layup. A contact with White #35 occurs and the referees call a blocking foul to White #35.
Article 33.3: A defensive player has established an initial legal guarding position when
facing the opponent, and
having both feet on the court.
Article 33.6: A player who has jumped into the air from a place on the court has the right to land again at the same place. He has the right to land on another place on the court provided that the landing place and the direct path between the take-off and landing place is not already occupied by an opponent(s) at the time of take-off.
Article 33.8: Charging is illegal personal contact, with or without the ball, by pushing or moving into an opponent's torso.
Article 33.4: When judging a charge/block situation involving a player with the ball, a referee shall use the following principles:
The defensive player must establish an initial legal guarding position by facing the player with the ball and having both feet on the court.
The defensive player may remain stationary, jump vertically, move laterally or backwards in order to maintain the initial legal guarding position.
When moving to maintain the initial legal guarding position, one foot or both feet may be off the court for an instant, as long as the movement is lateral or backwards, but not towards the player with the ball.
Contact must occur on the torso; in which case the defensive player would be considered as having been at the place of contact first.
Having established a legal guarding position, the defensive player may turn within the cylinder to avoid injury.
Outcome: Incorrect decision by the referees. White #35 had established a legal guarding position before Red #97 became airborne and the contact was on the torso.
As the ball had been released for the shot when the contact occurred, this is not a team control foul.
However, as the Red team was not in team foul penalty yet, the game should be resumed with a White team throw-in from the place closest to where the foul occurred, except directly behind the backboard.
TC4: BAXI Manresa vs. Pallacanestro Reggiana - Transition foul
Red #32 steals the ball and tries to start a transition. A contact with White #16 occurs and the referees call a personal foul to White #16 for blocking.
Article 37.1.1: An unsportsmanlike foul is a player contact which is:
An unnecessary contact caused by the defensive player in order to stop the progress of the offensive team in transition. This applies until the offensive player starts the act of shooting.
An illegal contact caused by a player from behind or laterally on an opponent, who is progressing towards the opponent’s basket and with no opponents between the progressing player and the basket, and - the progressing player is in control of the ball, or - the progressing player is attempting to gain control of the ball, or - the ball has been released on a pass to the progressing player.
This applies until the offensive player starts the act of shooting.
Outcome: Correct decision by the referees. The illegal contact created by White #16 cannot be considered an unsportsmanlike foul.
First, the illegal contact created by White #16 is a normal basketball play of a defender that tries to recover his position to avoid the fastbreak.
Secondly, the illegal contact created by White #16 was not from behind or laterally, but from the front. Therefore, White #16 committed a blocking foul.
As his team was already in team foul penalty, Red #32 shall attempt two free throws.