NBA referees cracking down on two areas this upcoming year with Zaza Rule and Harden Rule
NBA refs can rule reckless closeouts as flagrants or techs
NBA referees will be able to call flagrant or technical fouls on defenders who dangerously close on jump shooters without allowing them space to land, as Zaza Pachulia did on the play that injured Spurs star Kawhi Leonard in last season’s playoffs.
Officials will also make sure jump shooters are in their upward shooting motion when determining if a perimeter foul is worthy of free throws, which could cut down on James Harden’s attempts after he swings his arms into contact.
Officials can still rule the play a common foul if they did not see a dangerous or unnatural attempt by the defender upon review. Borgia said Pachulia’s foul would have been deemed a flagrant.
With the fouls on the perimeter shots — often coming when the offensive player has come off a screen and quickly attempts to launch a shot as his defender tries to catch up — officials will focus on the sequencing of the play. The player with the ball must already be in his shooting motion when contact is made, rather than gathering the ball to shoot such as on a drive to the basket.
Officials will also make sure jump shooters are in their upward shooting motion when determining if a perimeter foul is worthy of free throws, which could cut down on James Harden’s attempts after he swings his arms into contact.
The Zaza rule: On a reckless closeout, refs will call foul, then use replay to determine whether the closeout constituted a flagrant foul.
— Howard Beck (@HowardBeck) 21 settembre 2017
After game, league officials will also review reckless closeouts and can retroactively upgrade or downgrade the foul (as w/other flagrants).
— Howard Beck (@HowardBeck) 21 settembre 2017
Officials can still rule the play a common foul if they did not see a dangerous or unnatural attempt by the defender upon review. Borgia said Pachulia’s foul would have been deemed a flagrant.
With the fouls on the perimeter shots — often coming when the offensive player has come off a screen and quickly attempts to launch a shot as his defender tries to catch up — officials will focus on the sequencing of the play. The player with the ball must already be in his shooting motion when contact is made, rather than gathering the ball to shoot such as on a drive to the basket.
Short version: If a player has not yet gathered the ball when contact occurs, it’s a common foul, not a shooting foul.
— Howard Beck (@HowardBeck) 21 settembre 2017
E. Carchia
@Sportando
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