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BSP-04
BASKET-NBA-CHALLENGE
NBA to keep coach’s challenge replay rule
NEW YORK, Dec 18, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – The NBA is keeping the replay rule
allowing coaches one challenge of certain officiating decisions per game, the
league said Thursday.
The coach’s challenge was introduced last season on a one-year trial basis.
The league said Thursday that the board of governors had approved a
recommendation from the competition committee to retain the challenge going
forward.
“Our coaches were receptive to the pilot version of the Coach’s Challenge,
increasing usage and becoming more comfortable with the concept and strategic
aspects as the season progressed,” Byron Spruell, NBA President of League
Operations, said in a statement.
During the 2019-20 season, NBA head coaches challenged 633 calls in the
regular season and 67 in the playoffs.
The original call on the floor was overturned 281 times in the regular
season for an overturn rate of 44 percent. The overturn rate in the post-
season was 40 percent.
The board of governors approved language to clarify two specific situations
involving the challenge, both of which can affect pace of play.
A team loses its right to challenge the preceding call if it incurs a delay
of game violation before initiating the challenge.
And when officials confer to determine the appropriate call, the window of
time within which a team must “immediately” challenge the call starts after
the officials provide the negatively affected team notice of their final
ruling on the play.
BSS/AFP/GMR/0918 hrs