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If you feel like NBA games have been officiated differently in the second half the season compared to the first, do not adjust your TV set.
As it turns out, you’re onto something.
And NBA commissioner Adam Silver, after previously denying it, has now admitted to as much.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver | NBA Board of Governors Press Conference pic.twitter.com/r3fYwVtuyD
— NBA (@NBA) April 10, 2024
“I think there was a sense earlier in the season that there was too much of an advantage for the offensive players,” Silver said at a press conference on Wednesday. “That was a point of emphasis on behalf of the league. We were transparent with our teams about that. Everyone can see what’s happening on the floor and make their own judgments about the calls being made. Yes, there was a bit of an adjustment made along the way.”
Just how much has the league changed the way it calls games? A pretty good amount!
“Our teams are very happy with the state of the game as am I,” Silver also stated. “And as I said, I think we’re seeing fantastic competition on the court… When you look at the data for this season, it’s true that as this season went on foul calls came down roughly two fouls per team per game. That’s what we’re looking at, just to put it in context… As we’ve said now along the way… We get feedback from our teams and we calibrate as we go in terms of how people view the game.”
Two fouls per team, per game is nothing to scoff at!
The changes come at a pivotal time, as well. Scoring is well up across the league. But the new officiating process should help slow that.
It will also help speed up the pace of the game. Fewer fouls mean fewer stoppages meaning better game flow.
But it’s still a pretty change to just arbitrarily make in the middle of a season.