Arbitration in the Spotlight: Influence, Intensity, or Game?
The start of the NBA conference finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Minnesota Timberwolves highlighted one of the constants in the playoffs: the discussion about refereeing. Thunder coach Mark Daigneault addressed the issue after being questioned about the possible influence of Timberwolves coach Chris Finch on refereeing decisions through his statements to the media.
“Teams, players, and coaches will use means to try to influence the whistle as a competitive advantage. The margins are tight in the playoffs. Everyone is looking for an edge.”
Mark Daigneault, Thunder coach.
Daigneault was forceful in stating that if the referees are influenced by what is said in the media, they should not be refereeing in the Western Conference Finals.
The debate about officiating, especially in the postseason, is not new. What has changed is the intensity of the criticism, from coaches complaining about discrepancies to players questioning whether the league has lost control.
Monty McCutchen, NBA Vice President of Referee Development and Training, evaluates these comments and tries to distinguish between tactical play and legitimate concerns. McCutchen emphasized that there is no evidence that this year’s playoffs are being officiated differently than in previous years, nor that a mandate has been issued to allow more physical contact.
The intensity in the playoffs generates an increase in competitiveness that translates into greater physical contact. The familiarity between the teams, who know each other perfectly, also contributes to this greater closeness on the court.
Following the Golden State Warriors’ victory over the Timberwolves in the first game of the Western Conference semifinals, coach Chris Finch once again expressed his dissatisfaction with the officiating.
“Certainly, we will try to get justice on our own whenever we can, I think that’s the nature of a physical sport, but, my God, you should see some of these videos. They look like guards and linemen just shooting at Rudy Gobert.”
Chris Finch, Timberwolves coach.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr also joined the complaints, pointing out the permissiveness in physical contact and the lack of some fouls called.
Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images
McCutchen acknowledged that officiating is always a bit behind the innovation in the game. In 2023, referees noticed a growing trend: offensive players were approaching the free throw line and frequently bumping into the defender’s outside shoulder, seeking contact and pressuring referees to call a foul.
In January 2024, the list of plays identified as “deceptive” grew to about 50. In mid-February, the referees began to adjust their criteria, becoming stricter on straight-line contact plays.
This modification was reflected in a decrease in free throw attempts per game. The 2023-24 season saw the fewest free throw attempts per game in NBA history. Teams are shooting more three-pointers, which reduces opportunities for contact in the paint.
McCutchen emphasized the search for a balance between the skill and the legality of physical contact, indicating that the conscious decision has been made to allow defenses a fair opportunity, provided they arrive at the position first.
McCutchen receives messages and calls from teams. “When the team calls me and says, ‘Hey, I want to talk about tonight,’ I say, ‘I’m happy to do it. Would you like me to put the other team on the line so we can have that discussion?'”.
Each team is different in the way they do it. And we can’t have that imbalance at this time of year. And I’m very strict about it because I believe in fairness. I believe that’s the core value of the competition.
When a team sends videos for review, McCutchen assures that he does not send them to the officiating crew that will work the next game in the series, nor does he give them instructions to adjust their officiating. “We don’t put our foot on the scale that way,” McCutchen stated. “My job is to educate, to improve. I don’t call teams in advance. That is highly unethical.”
An NBA coach, who preferred to remain anonymous, commented that the referees’ job is “brutal” and that the pressure to make correct decisions is increasingly high.
