Technically its now a technical

by Jeff Laboon

While battling for a rebound, Jermaine O’Neal of the Boston Celtics pushes New York Knicks’ center Timofey Mozgov and the officials whistle O’Neal for a loose ball foul. O’Neal tries to plead his case to the official. Technical foul.

As the players wait around for the Knicks to shoot, Kevin Garnett chats up an official. Technical foul.

But Garnett continues, so the ref ejects him much to the pleasure of the Madison Square Garden crowd. At least it was only preseason.



This scene is just one of many so far this season. League officials instructed referees to call more technical fouls on players arguing over calls and non-calls in an attempt to increase respect in the league.

Some specific actions that will warrant a technical foul call include punching the air, waving off an official, running to an official, any sign of shock or disagreement, and sarcastic gestures directed towards refs. The result of a technical foul, also called a “T” or a “tech,” is a free throw and possession for the opposing team.

According to league officials, though, these rule changes are tailored to please fans. Stu Jackson, vice president of basketball operations for the NBA, told the Associated Press in September, “Our fan research shows that people think NBA players complain too much and they do so much more than players in other leagues,” says Jackson.

(The list of offenders consists of some the league's elite.)

The league has a structured penalty for each technical foul. The first five technical fouls committed cost $2,000 each. Fouls six to ten come with a $3,000 fine each. Numbers 11 to 15 result in a $4,000 fine and a warning letter to the player after his 12th technical. The 16th technical results in a $5,000 fine and a one game suspension. Each additional foul costs $5,000 and each two additional fouls costs $5,000 plus a one game suspension. Ejections cost $2,000 plus the fine for the previous ejection. So the third ejection, for example, will cost $6,000; the eighth will cost $16,000; etc.

Not surprisingly, T’s have increased greatly from past seasons. Jason Williams (ORL), Zyndrunas Ilgauskas (MIA), and Andre Miller (POR) lead the league in technical fouls with two each. Dallas Mavericks forward Tyson Chandler is the only player to be called for a technical this season only to have it rescinded by the League Office.

(Tyson Chandler is credited with two T's this season, but his first was rescinded following the game.)

This is not the first time the league proposed this initiative. During the 2006-07 season, the league instructed referees to call more T’s, but the players’ association filed a labor claim against the league.

The reaction has obviously been mixed among players. Michael Beasley of the Minnesota Timberwolves told the AP that he thinks players need to “shut up and play basketball,” but he does think that fans enjoy watching emotional players.

(For better or worse, get used to this scene.)

In the first week of this initiative, it is clear that players need to contain their immediate reactions or they will receive a technical. In some cases, players need to use common sense – i.e. do not try to cuss out a ref – but in others cases, players need to hold back on their instinctive reactions – i.e. not waving their hands in shock after a questionable call.

Needless to say, this is only a developing story in this young season.