NBA approves use of instant replay

Posted 7:59AM on Tuesday 30th July 2002 ( 22 years ago )

NEW YORK - Referees in the NBA will get to do next season what fans have been doing for decades - watch replay after replay of last-second shots. The officials, though, will finally be able to do something about it. The league on Monday approved instant replay for this season, starting with exhibition games this fall. The decision comes just months after some disputed calls in the closing moments of playoff games. Replay will be used primarily to determine whether last-second shots beat the buzzer. ``The officials themselves are very much in favor of an instant-replay system,'' said Stu Jackson, the NBA's vice president for basketball operations. ``The overwhelming majority of officials are in favor of the system.'' The league's competition committee recommended the move to the Board of Governors last week, and the board approved the measure by an ``overwhelming majority'' Monday. At least three-quarters, or 22 of 29 members, needed to vote in favor for the rule to pass. ``I don't think there's any one event that drove this decision,'' Jackson said. ``There have been a number of instances where, quite frankly, for any human being it would have been impossible to determine whether the shot got off in time.'' For any reviewable call to be overturned, officials will need to have ``clear and conclusive'' evidence. The league said the reviews will take two minutes or less. The officials will use video provided by the game's telecast. Jackson acknowledged the possibility of inconsistencies if a game is not televised. ``We're mulling that over as we speak,'' he said. ``Maybe we can't review during those games. What we could do is use the in-arena feed.'' The replay rule will be ``reviewed on an ongoing basis,'' Jackson said, with the first meeting most likely to take place at the All-Star game in February. A replay will be triggered whenever a last-second shot falls, but coaches will not be able to prompt them. Officials can also determine if a player was fouled before time expired - but not whether the foul call was correct - and if a 24-second shot clock or eight-second backcourt violation occurred before a shot. In an April playoff game between the Hornets and Orlando Magic, Charlotte's Davis banked in a shot that clearly beat the buzzer after the Hornets inbounded with 0.7 seconds left and the score tied. Referee Bernie Fryer waved the shot off while it was in the air, saying the officiating crew had discussed beforehand that no player could catch, turn and shoot in that amount of time. The Hornets went on to beat the Magic in overtime, but the episode showed that the league needed to address its policies regarding last-second shots. In the Nets-Pacers series, Indiana's Miller forced overtime in Game 5 with a shot that left his hand after the clock reached zeros. And in Game 4 of the Kings-Lakers series, a 30-footer by Los Angeles' Walker to end the first half was allowed even though it left his hand too late. All of those shots would have been reviewable under the new rule, but replay will not be used to determine whether the clock started on time. This was an issue in March, when Cleveland's Lamond Murray made a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Cavaliers a 100-97 win over New Jersey. Only 0.5 seconds remained when Andre Miller inbounded and Murray was able to catch the ball and shoot before the buzzer. At the time, Nets coach Byron Scott urged the league to use instant replay.

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