francisco elson’s technical againts the mavs is a prime example of how the no tolerance policy will be abused and eventually breed more hostility and anger within the league. there should be at least some leeway with the expression of anger or even enthusiasm in this case. its kinda ridculous to request a highly competitive players who bust there @$$ for 20-35 min a game show no sign of intensity while they play.

I like the two words you make up in this post: “emempt” and “assholery.”

Just teasing. I agree whole-heartedly with this. I generally dislike Stern but he may be on to something. I just hope Dick or Salvadore don’t referee any Pistons games anytime soon.

I like the two words you make up in this post: "emempt" and…

Damn incompetent proofreader… Oh, wait, that’s me.

I don’t like the rule for two reasons;
1. Sheed is my favorite player and it’s unfortunate that he’s going to be suspended for every 17th game (he’s tallied 3 T’s in 3 games).
2. It’s supposed to be a “no tolerance” rule, but it hasn’t and will not be enforced that way. The felonious refs will still show favoritism with some players, while others, Sheed, will be treated with less tolerance. It’s just another way for Stern and the officials to alter the outcome of the game.
HOWEVA! The incessant whining was becoming frustrating and was at times hard to watch. Most of the time though, it was hilarious like after Sheed tosses his headband and does a high-knee run along the baseline. So, until I see LeBron T’ed up for throwing his hands in the air after a no-call when a defender breathed on him as he was driving the lane, I will not be a fan of the Shut Up Sheed Rule

I completely disagree with this post. It is however very well written.

Alan knows what he’s talkin about

This is all well and good, but what really grinds my gears is the inconsistency. ‘Sheed deserves many of the ’T’s coming his way this season, no doubt, but what exactly did he do in the home opener to get ejected? I was at that game, and from my nosebleed seats, on the second ‘T’ it looked to me like he was bitching at one of the Bucs rather than a ref. His fate was sealed the moment he laced up his shoes.

Meanwhile, gander over to the prissy bitch from the ‘mistake on the lake’ (LeBron), and on every little play he’s crying like he’s auditioning for dawson’s creek. This guy gets the Jordan treatment on calls already at the tender age of 14; his average would be cut in half if he was held to regular standards of charging, and now he’s exempt from the whining rule?

I am certainly aware that the NBA is drooling over LeBitch getting to the finals, and I understand that he’s going to get calls, but whining doesn’t help him fill seats and get on sportscenter. I’m fine with the rule, but enforce it in a standardized way.

I don’t think there is any more inconsistency now than there was last season or ten seasons ago. The system has always been subject to human error and prejudices. And with the number of BS techs that Sheed has had called on him in the past, I’m willing to bet that this policy does more to level the playing field than to further skew it.

I really liked how you compared NBA players to NFL wide receivers…that is a very fair and accurate comparison in my mind, I just wish I would have thought of it first.

Whenever another subjective rule is made a point of emphasis, it creates a greater opportunity for human error or bias to come into play.

Sheed is now in double jeopardy, getting techs for arguing BS fouls/techs as well as legitimate ones.

Chris McCoskey pointed out on WDFN last week that Mike Bibby getting ejected by Derrick Stafford looks a lot like payback for past transgressions.

The NBA had a good thing going with the devil’s deal it cut with the players. Fans want to see the players complain and cry to the refs, not for the refs to fight back or punish.

The bottom line remains that many of these early point of emphasis techs have been highly questionable, which undermines the integrity of the game. A game already under scrutiny for making a drastic change (see Cuban’s report) with the ball, and the lopsided officiating of the last finals.

At the end of the day, the fans lose.

Globalization of the NBA is a myth. A unicorn. International fans idolize American ballers for their individuality and style. Not their forced conformity.

Just my $1.25 CDN.

Fans want to see the players complain and cry to the refs, not for the refs to
fight back or punish.

I couldn’t disagree with you more on this take. If anything, I think the whining and bitching further separates the players from the fans. How many times last season did you say to yourself, “Jebus, (insert Piston player here), shut the hell up!” I did, frequently. And the majority of Piston fans that I know and talk to on a regular basis felt the same way.

And if the end result is the players treating the officiating as another aspect of the game under which they have no control (like the ten-foot rim, the slippery, microfiber ball, etc.), in my mind it is a good thing.

The refs will always be there. They will always be inconsistent. But if you can stay on your game despite the inconsistencies (since they are bound to exist regardless of whether or not you protest), then you have a leg up over the opponent who does not.

And this new policy doesn’t introduce any more human error than was there before. The refs were not given any new power; they could always call a tech at their discretion. If anything, human error is lessened since we now have a rough guideline as to what will draw a tech — we never had that before. Leniencey and exceptions will be much easier to spot and criticize than before.

As always though, thanks for the opinions. Dissents are welcome here!

This rule is way to vague. It’s like stern just got pissed one day and said no more complaining. I am not looking forward to this new sedated N.B.A. Chauncey got a tech for running up the court when he didn’t agree with a call. Where does it end. If you want to waste time complaining to the ref, who cares. Your man should be running up court for an easy basket. How can you prohibit natural human emotion. YOU CAN’T! I’m not talking about the constant complaining either. This might be the worst thing to happen to the N.B.A. (Aside from Damon Jones choice of apparel).

Canadians always have perspective. Micro’s right about the new enforcement policy. Now it’s even easier for the refs to show up the players. Why is it that I can name the majority of refs in the league? How many umpire names do you know? What about NFL refs? Most of the NBA refs are more well known than 75% of the players in the league. That’s just not right.

I like the rule and I think it can be very effective in the long run, if applied correctly and once the players can figure out where’s the limit between whining a little bit and whining too much and getting teed up.

But, will the players know where the refs are drawing the line? Because, so far, I’ve seen no change with some players like Duncan, Cassell or Nash.

NBA players do not whine more than players in other sports. That is right up there with the idea that they are lazy athletes who only play the last two minutes of the game.

In hockey, you literally have to try to take out another player before a foul is called. Similarly, in football. Wide receivers complain for the same reason ballers do: referees calling touch fouls because the networks want to emphasize offense.

Defenders complain because, well, when you are busting your ass to stop Lebron, it is kind of frustrating to get a foul called because your hand brushed him accidentally. Conversely, on offense, you start expecting calls every time you get a slight bump.

After awhile, everyone complains about everything because there doesn’t appear to be much rhyme or reason either way. It becomes a matter of just getting as many calls as you can, fair or not.

The real culprit is the need to keep growing the market for the NBA product. That is Stern’s job and he takes it very seriously. That means giving the networks more offense, clearly defined story lines, and likeable players. This leads to constant tinkering with the rules and, in turn, inconsistent calls by the refs.

Dan for president.

This rule would make sense if it was implemented with any kind of consistancy. This hasn’t stopped players from complaining about calls and looking bad in front of the cameras as it was intended to do. Refs are blowing the whistles without rhyme or reason and players don’t know what’s out of bounds, which leads to certain players who’ve always thought they were on a short leash, like Rasheed, to believe that the rule will only be enforced on players the league wishes to single out. With the way the rule has been called so far this season, can you blame them?

Oscar, I can’t argue against anything that you’ve said. I don’t believe that the rule is going to continue to be enforced in the manner it is right now, and while I think it is incredibly difficult to find a baseline standard for something as uneven as emotional outbursts directed at officials, I do think the majority of refs are trying to do so. Asking for the refs and players to have a clear sense of what is “out of bounds” four games into the season is asking a lot. It’ll even out.

That said, Rasheed is being singled out right now by the refs, and unfairly so. The T that he was called for last night was ridiculous. But that doesn’t taint the good that can come from the fair implementation of the rule league-wide.

As for the comments above regarding the promotion of offense due to the evil TV networks, conspiracy theories abound in the NBA.

While I dislike tweaks in the rules to benefit particular players, the gradual evolution of rules is another reality of all professional and college sports.

Ian,

The singling out of Sheed does taint the rule. This not all occuring in a bubble. I’m sure I don’t have to remind you that this affects gambling, player performance incentives, win/loss records and public perception to name just a few things.

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

It’s like your calling the race card BS. Race factors into demographics, and everything the NBA does is about money.

To paraphrase David Stern from a recent interview on Yahoo Sports, “(at one time) we were concerned our league was too black”.

Micro, I think you misread my words:

“But that doesn’t taint the good that can come from the fair implementation of the rule league-wide.”

As for David Stern, has done a remarkable job of rewarding both his players and owners for the success of the league. His policies are driven by the aforementioned goal of increasing, in every way, the league’s popularity and income generation. It is in his job description. If a dress code achieves headway with his target demographic, isn’t it then a sound financial decision to institute the policy? Why does it have to devolve into a cultural issue?

Ian,

Now I understand where you are coming from. David Stern has no social responsibilities or obligations to the integrity of the game. His job is to make more money at all costs.

In this aspect, he has been a phenomenal success.

I won’t jump for that bait except to simply ask, on this here election day, “Is your NBA better off today than it was in 1984?”

I say no. Not as a fan.

And I would respectfully disagree.

You’re ok with me Ian. :)