The NBA has again expanded instant replay, offering new instances where game officials can turn to technology for help. Under new rules announced by the NBA today, in the last two minutes of regulation and in all of overtime, referees can use instant replay to determine whether the ball hit the rim (and whether the shot clock should be adjusted) and to determine who last touched a ball that goes out-of-bounds. The latter was already permitted in the last two minutes of regulation or overtime, but it now applies to all of overtime. Referees can also adjust the game clock on reviewed out-of-bounds plays in crunch time.
Two other new rules allow the use of replay on foul calls at any point in a game. One allows referees to consult replay to determine which player should be attempting free throws after a foul call. You might notice that this is really weird; the NBA has essentially admitted that referees sometimes blow the whistle without knowing who was fouled, just that a foul occurred.
The wording of the rule as presented in the NBA's announcement does not make it clear if this would only allow referees to choose between two teammates when a confusing foul call occurs, or whether referees can use replay to decide close charge-or-blocking-foul calls. The NBA says replay can be used "to determine which player should attempt free throws after a foul occurred," which would nod to the the first explanation, but it remains unclear.The other replay allowance on foul calls would allow referees to consult the monitor to determine if a clear-path foul can be awarded.
Back in February, NBA commissioner David Stern told FanHouse's Chris Tomasson that he forsaw the league expanding replay sensibly this offseason.
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