Shortly before the start of training camp last month, NBA officials received an updated, more stringent technical foul policy aimed at limiting arguments and menacing gestures toward game officials.
The result? Through the first 59 games of the preseason, 69 technical fouls were called on both players and coaches for violations other than 3 second calls. While the Lakers only accounted for a mere 4 percent of that statistic, still affected, Lamar Odom offered up a new catchphrase for the NBA during a media session last Friday.
“Where normal happens…not amazing,” said Odom. “There’s nothing amazing about it. There’s nothing amazing about not showing emotion.”
During a preseason game against the Sacramento Kings, Odom kept his arm elevated after a foul was called to indicate he was within the rules of verticality, a sort-of silent protest that earned him a technical foul.
“That was one of the weirdest technicals I’ve ever gotten,” Odom said.
Under the new guidelines, referees are allowed to assess a technical for demonstrative and continuous displays of emotion, even if they aren’t directed at a referee. Any action that doesn’t show proper respect for the game could result in a technical, subject to the discretion of the referee. Players will be allowed to display emotion, in the heat of the moment, as long as it isn’t over the top and pending they get it under control quickly.
That’s easier said than done.
“It’s an emotional game, no matter what,” Lakers forward Pau Gasol said. “You’re going to react if you don’t agree with a call. You can’t keep yourself cool all the time.”
Next: New policy a problem for players association The NBA has implemented the new policy in response to informal research conducted showing fan disapproval of players’ incessant whining and complaining. It’s not clear what the sample size or demographics are of the fans polled, but some would argue that emotional outbursts are welcomed to the delight fans that enjoy seeing fire from their players.
An exhibition game between the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics last week resulted in four technical calls within a 16-second span, with forward Kevin Garnett being ejected after picking up two of them for arguing over calls made against teammate Jermaine O’Neal. Incidents like this and the one involving Odom have the NBA players association fuming, planning legal action over the league’s decision to crackdown on player’s reactions during games.
“The new unilateral rule changes are an unnecessary and unwanted overreaction on the league’s behalf,” NBPA director Billy Hunter said. “We have not seen any increase in the level of ‘complaining’ to the officials and we believe that players as a whole have demonstrated appropriate behavior toward the officials.”
In addition to causing what Hunter see’s as a “stifling of the players’ passion and exuberance for their work,” they’ll also be hit with a blow to their pocket-books.
Next: League to raise fines for technicals After each of their first five technical fouls, players and coaches will be charged $2,000. Increments follow after technicals 6-10 and 11-15, $3,000 and $4,000, respectively. Once a player reaches the dreaded technical No. 16, they’re suspended one game for every two technicals, along with a $5,000 fine for each.
While the players may have a harder time embracing the new rule, several coaches including Lakers coach Phil Jackson, didn’t think it was at all mal-intentioned.
“I’d really like to see them clean up the post-foul activity by players,” Jackson said post-practice Friday. “I think it’s the right sentiment. Go on with it, rather than try to bargain or protest or create crowd sympathy by their activities. So I’m in concurrence with it.”
The behavior rarely gets them anywhere, changed calls only happen when during a combination of player reaction and replay availability—clock-based situations, buzzer beaters, out-of-bounds calls and the occasional meeting-of-the-minds between officials to decide on block/charge calls.
Baseball players understand there are things you don’t argue about with umpires, mainly called strikes and balls. There are also actions, like drawing the lines within the strike-zone over home-plate, generally accepted throughout the league as big no-no’s when it comes to challenging calls. Most players will grit their teeth or give the umpire a split-second glare before running the risk of getting tossed. Just the same they adjust, as NBA players will have to do barring the referees at least remain consistent with their technical calls.
Next: Consistency an issue for referees
Consistency will be difficult as the rule can be interpreted in different ways. The officiating isn’t perfect, but at least they’re addressing the issue as opposed to putting it on the back-burner. If players are required to ease up on their complaints to referees, the officials should be held accountable after a missed call.
“Guys will learn,” Jackson said. “The one thing about it is, guys will learn very quickly if they get fined or they get ejected. Just call it, guys will stop doing it. It may take a week or so, but guys learn real quickly in this game.”
Last night the Lakers were down three points with 45-seconds left on the clock when rookie Devin Ebanks received his first technical after throwing his hands up in disgust over a foul call. Utah Jazz rookie, Gordon Hayward, capped off his 26-point night by draining all three free throws awarded cementing his team’s win over the Lakers.
Ebanks and the Lakers can shrug it off as a rookie mistake during a meaningless preseason game, but what happens during the regular season or the playoffs when the stakes are higher?
Only time will tell how All-Star guard Kobe Bryant will fare adhering to the new guidelines. Already receiving one technical during the preseason, only averaging around 19 minutes per game, he comes off a season in which he collected 14 technicals, fourth most in the league. He previously earned 11 technicals during his 2008-09 campaign and a league-leading 15 in 2007-08.
Adjusting to ball-handling and shooting with a broken finger might prove to be easier for Bryant. Hopefully that isn’t the case. As far as Odom is concerned, he plans on sticking to the rule.
“I’m an employee. If you make rules, I’ll abide by them,” Odom said. “That’s just something that you have to do. We’re mature and old enough to do it. I want to keep my money.”