The NBA replay system is average at best. It’s nice that the league reviews many calls and tries to get them right — but it doesn’t always happen that way. Nothing is perfect, and the NBA’s replay system won’t ever be flawless, but changes are needed.
Just ask Doc Rivers and the Los Angeles Clippers. They were in the unfortunate position of being on the wrong side of a call Tuesday night, which likely cost them game five.
“In my opinion, let’s take away replay. Let’s take away the replay system. Because that’s our ball. We win the game. And we got robbed because of that call. And it’s clear. Everybody in the arena saw it. That’s why everybody was shocked when they said Oklahoma City ball. Whether it was a foul or not — it was, but they didn’t call it.”
While Rivers’ response was extreme, he’s right. Changes are needed to the replay system. The NBA should not take it away, as Doc has requested, but it should reevaluate the details within the system.
It appears that the officials ruled in favor of OKC on Tuesday night because they missed the obvious foul call. It should have been Reggie Jackson shooting two, so in a way, they got it right. But not by the book. The book says it should have been Clips ball.
It’s doubtful fouls will ever be reviewable, but when they’re as obvious as the one Tuesday night — why not just get the call right via replay?
If nothing else the NBA can do all of its fans a favor and find a way to shorten the amount of time spent on review.