Written by: Emily Wilson
We’ve all been hearing about it, and seeing the early effects of it while watching preseason games. The NBA is cracking down on the antics of players who whine, flail or otherwise react how the league deems inappropriately to referees’ in-game decision making.
According to an ESPN.com article, during the first 59 exhibition games this year, referees doled out 69 technical fouls. Along with the new sensitivity comes increased financial burden and suspensions for every two technical fouls beyond 15. This move to crack down on whiners is said to be for the fans. League officials referenced an audience poll, which yielded the results that fans don’t want to see or hear NBA players whining and complaining.
And while there are moments when the excessive groans or outlandish antics of certain players grow tiresome, there are far more times when the passionate responses to plays and calls are not only entertaining, but vital to a game so dependent on (and as Lamar Odom points out here, marketed on the basis of) emotion.
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Odom has already received a technical foul under the sharpened rule. In an exhibition game against the Sacramento Kings on October 13, he left his hand in the air after being called for a foul. Because it was up for longer than three seconds, he got a technical, even while his gesture was non-directed and his mouth closed.
As is the case for many NBA rosters, the Lakers one is full of emotional players. Three notables are Kobe Bryant, Matt Barnes and Lamar Odom, all of whom were among the top 20 in NBA players receiving technical fouls last season. Kobe had 14, Barnes had 10, and Odom had 9.
Next: Problems with the New Rule
Knowing that, a concern arises: timing. This crackdown comes at the beginning of what is sure to be one of the Lakers more emotional seasons in years. As is always the case, the defending champion is the team to beat. That is the Lakers’ reality this season, but doubled. Unless you’re a Lakers fan, any scenario other than a three-peat is an acceptable one—even if your team isn’t the overall victor.
The Lakers are public enemy number one. Players and opposing fans will harbor that attitude and be gunning for them, leading to inevitably electric, charged atmospheres. Games, plays and fouls will be intense, meaningful and…emotional. Additionally, it’s Phil Jackson’s final season as, not only the Lakers head coach, but as a coach at all. He’s vying for a record 12th NBA championship. If victorious, all twelve will have come in the form of three-peats.
Remembering to control every hand raise, eye roll and foul-rebuttal will be a difficult task for all players, but even more so for the Lakers. And whether or not it will affect the season, in regards to performance, suspensions and for the fans—watchability—remains to be seen.
It’d be interesting to do another audience poll, this one of Lakers fans, to find out if the new idea of better game—the one prohibiting emotional reactions to calls—is the one they actually wish to see.