Okay, so the consensus is that thus far, the new refs are calling EVERYTHING. So, what would happen to the NBA if these rookies came in and started calling all the little things the veterans stopped noticing, especially against star players? I'm not saying that Stern isn't going to try and take care of that, but so far it's been tons and tons of fouls and free throws. So what would happen? Would players adapt? Would coaches adapt? Or will the game slow to a crawl until Stern is begging the veteran refs to come home?
I think of the "new ball" fiasco we had a couple of years ago, and how some players claimed that it changed their performance. We'll see, but I wonder if adjusting to refs is something you have to do at the start of every season with new rule changes coming out all the time.
I think it's going to slow things down. I think it could either help Greg (guys will have to foul him or he'll score), or it could hurt him and get him out of the game with the quickness. I think we're going to see a lot of palming and traveling violations.
These new refs are calling games different than I'm used to seeing, but I don't really mind a stricter enforcement of the rules. My only real concern is that if the old refs come back, how will it effect Oden's performance. These new refs don't seem to be to quick to call things on Greg, unlike last year when after a short time it seemed like the refs were working off a reputation for some of their more questionable calls. These new refs are fresh and don't seem to have the idea that if Oden and another player bump, and the other player reacts like it was a huge hit, that Greg must have done something wrong. There were times when he was called for traveling when it seemed like he kept his pivot foot down on replay, and offensive/defensive fouls that were just normal contact. Granted I can't watch any of the games so it's hard to say for sure, but these new refs seem to be lacking that bias, and if the old refs come back does Oden's foul trouble come with them?
The refs are going to considerably slow the game down and I think it's entirely possible that we could see 80+ free throws per game on a near nightly basis. Players may end up adapting, but at the end it's going to make for a much less physical game and big men in particular are likely to foul out at higher clip than has ever been seen before ... you all think this is a guard dominant league now? Look out.
In time the new refs will come around to the more physical style of play. It's also nice to be rid of the star system. Hey, Stern, don't bring back the old refs.
Spot on man. I don't know what the rest of you are thinking, but Portland was never going to be on the good end of the "star treatment" stick, ever. The new refs are refreshing IMO. The whole fact that everybody who could have been involved in the mafia is out now too makes me feel pretty damn good.
