NBA Official Rules versus HUMAN BRAIN

[JBKB]

The official rules of the NBA are exhaustive and very detailed. Referees miss calls throughout the game, and are very inconsistent in officiating.

My hypothesis is that the human brain cannot process all NBA rules during a fast-moving game of basketball. There are simply too many rules for a referee to accurately execute.

With three referees, and ten players on the court, how can referees pay attention to moving screens, while at the same time count the seconds a player is standing in the paint to be sure he is not violating the 3-second violation?

A perfect example is when the Lakers were on there way to being defeated by the New Orleans Hornets' huge comeback today. The referees were too incompetent to notice a player was illegally in the paint six seconds, so the Lakers caught a break at such a crucial time in the fourth quarter. Should the NBA delete some of its rules to an amount that referees can competently execute?

What I am asking is, "Would the game of basketball be more enjoyable if the NBA had fewer rules, which in turn would make the game much easier for referees to execute?"

Do you think the human brain can consistently process and apply the rules of NBA basketball during a fast-paced game of basketball? If so, how come referees with multiple years of experience can't do it? : ) lol

[e-monk]

Originally Posted by JBKB

Do you think the human brain can consistently process and apply the rules of NBA basketball during a fast-paced game of basketball? If so, how come referees with multiple years of experience can't do it? : ) lol

some can and some cant (clearly)

[Geaux Tigers]

You can't get every call. Thats the human element of sports. And its up to the players to adjust to the refs each game. The human brain can absolutely keep track of the rules on basketball. And there are 3 refs per NBA game each evaluating the game at different angles. Would you really want to watch basketball if every single rule violation was called? It would take 6 hours.

[Dee-Zy]

I think you bring up good points.

What about going for 5 refs and have a clear cut head ref that has more power if a ref huddle becomes a bitching circle?

Each ref would be assigned 2 players to constantly keep an eye on, in the cases of zone D or switches, I'm sure they can figure something out.

Or have refs looking at something specific, like 3 seconds in the key, out of bounds and others for illegal screens and charges/flops, ect.

I don't have a problem with having more refs if the game is going to be officiated better.

[The Big Dipper]

oh boy............ another thread with a rhetorical question.

[RollWithEm]

Originally Posted by Dee-Zy

I don't have a problem with having more refs if the game is going to be officiated better.

And if we've learned anything in recent years, it's that refs are cheap.

[XxIrvingxX]

Hmm...this thread actually has some logic in it. I must say I am impressed JBKB.

[Mattsanity]

this thread couldn't have been made at a better time

[JBKB]

Originally Posted by Dee-Zy

I think you bring up good points.

What about going for 5 refs and have a clear cut head ref that has more power if a ref huddle becomes a bitching circle?

Each ref would be assigned 2 players to constantly keep an eye on, in the cases of zone D or switches, I'm sure they can figure something out.

Or have refs looking at something specific, like 3 seconds in the key, out of bounds and others for illegal screens and charges/flops, ect.

I don't have a problem with having more refs if the game is going to be officiated better.

I agree wholeheartedly with you, and have also pondered many of your ideas. You're right, why can't their be special referees on the sideline or stands whose only job is to look out for the 3-second violations, or a few other rules they can manageably handle.

[JBKB]

Originally Posted by Geaux Tigers

You can't get every call. Thats the human element of sports.

I agree! That's why I think it would be a great idea for the NBA to delete lots of rules so the human element of sports won't be such a factor. : )

Now, keep in mind. I'm not talking about controversial calls. That's understandable to me. I'm referring to calls that go unnoticed, or calls that are whistled inconsistently. The more rules you jam the human brain to remember, the more likely the human brain won't remember. Simple solution: reduce the number of rules.

Originally Posted by Geaux Tigers

Would you really want to watch basketball if every single rule violation was called? It would take 6 hours.

YES! : ) Why else put the rules in the game if they are not to be followed? Now, I agree that it would bore the game, but that's when the NBA can say "Hey, we don't really need this or that rule!" Then instead of a final five minutes of no 4th quarter action, we'll see five minutes of actual basketball action.

Anyway, accurate officiating won't happen because three referees don't have the brain capacity to apply every rule of NBA basketball to a fast-paced game. We either need more referees, or less rules. : )