“There is 5.3 second to go in the game, we are down by one and this is a must win game. Ray (Allen), you have been nailing jumpers left and right tonight, but Paul (Pierce), you can create and drive to hole and hopefully get to the line. How has Dick BaVetta been calling fouls in these waning seconds of the game?”

-“Doc (Rivers), what the hell does that have to do with anything? We’re playing the game.”

-“Well Ray, I am debating whether or not to take a jumper or take it to the hole, and depending on the officials point of view, he/she may or may not call a foul if we attack the basket.”

When the game is on the line, and the coach and players are formulating a strategy, does the referee’s style take precedent in the final decision? Of course it does, and to clarify “referee’s style”, it is whether or not the referee will make a call at the end of game. Some do and others don’t (I will talk more about this in a future article), and based on their previous calls or no calls at the end of a game will change a primitive decision by the coach or player.

Most fans of the game wonder why teams settle for the jumper. Why didn’t they take it to the hole and try and get fouled? The key word is try. Coaches around the league constantly ponder the best way to go about a buzzer beater decision. They want it to be easy and attack the basket, so they can go to the line, drain two, then go home with the W. However, it’s not that easy. The officials take a crucial part of the decision making in these last remaining seconds of the game. Can a team rely on a referee to make a call? Of course not, that’s why a lot people are seeing pull up jumpers, set plays from the outside, and fadeaways from their favorite players in the last prayer of the game.

A strategy cannot be banked on an official; players have to decide for themselves. They have to dictate the outcome of the game, not the referees. Fans do not go and see the officials to make a call. That’s why the few players that can rise up in crunch time will forever be remembered. They embrace the uncertainty of uncontrollable outside forces and shape their own destiny.

A trait that is seen less and less these days.

Example:

Last Tuesday, when the Lakers faced off against the Thunder in a thrilling game, Kevin Durant was off from the outside (0-6 from 3 point land), but got to the hole easily and scored big buckets down the stretch. He created, got the line, and started to find a rhythm, except from the outside. Then, with 15 seconds left to go, the Thunder were down 2, and Durant was dribbling the ball 34 feet away from the basket; everyone waiting for him to attack the basket. The same way he was doing the entire night. Out of desperation, he shoots a 30 foot air ball as time expired. Game over. Hit the showers.

Why didn’t he take it to the hole? Durant knew he could drive the lane or at least create for his teammates (Jeff Green was 3-5 from beyond the arch), or get to hoop and finish strong, regardless of contact endured. Instead, he settled for a jumper, unwilling to take the chance of not getting the foul called, afraid that the Lakers defense would thwart his attempt with belligerent contact.

A player and coach cannot think this way, but they do; scared of putting the pressure on the opposing defense and referee’s judgment. Teams get the defense and officials off the hook by not attacking. Don’t worry about the referee’s style, you make a simple situation complex; it’s already tough enough. Don’t make it more difficult. Attack the basket, make something happen, create for teammates and don’t ever, EVER rely on an official to dictate your strategy on the outcome of a game.

So Doc, have Paul drive to lane, don’t settle. Be a man.

This is The Ref signaling I’m out for now, and remember: We miss calls, you miss layups.