THE NBA’S THREE SETS OF “RULES.”

THE NBA’S THREE SETS OF “RULES.” Refereeing basketball games is difficult enough, but the NBA makes it more difficult by having three different sets of “rules.” In addition to the rules that apply to over 90% of regular season games, there is a second set of “rules” for the last couple minutes of a game. How the game has been refereed for the first 46 minutes of the game provides no guidance. In fact, I think the only guidelines for the last two minutes are that the referees should “let the players play.” How much should they be allowed to “play”? Just “more.” (I have always thought that the reluctance to call fouls comes because the league tolerates uncertainty to try to avoid having games decided at the free throw line). The third set of “rules” is for playoff games, and again there is little guidance provided by the regular season. How is “playoff basketball” different? It’s not in the rulebook or in the customary law established over the 82 games of the regular season. The league grants referees a lot of discretion—each referee is in a sense on his own at the most important times. The league should not be surprised when it faces a wall of cynicism about refereeing.