We all watch those games where it’s unbelievably close. Then a foul happens and we start to have a free throw battle. That’s slow as hell. Nobody like watching that.
The NBA can’t stop last minute free throw battles, but they can speed up the process of fouling and instant replay. Which is why, according to ProBasketballTalk. The NBA have created a brand new replay center.
It will be fully operational for opening night Oct. 28. Looking like a NASA launch center, the room has 20 replay stations and 94 television monitors, plus the NBA tells us it is “directly connected to all 29 NBA arenas, streamlining the process of instant replay video review.”
Here’s why this is better than the old system: By the time the referees stroll over and flip the monitor around, the fine folks working the replay center will already have cued up multiple camera angles of the play in question, and can show those angles simultaneously on the screen (a replay official in the center is dedicated to each game). The replay official also can zoom in as needed on a part of the video. The in-arena referee will more quickly see the best angle, make the call and everything moves on.
Now that’s fast. Very flashy. This’ll make baseball games look like a snail race.
But I have a feeling that this will be a problem for the players. I would not be surprised if a player starts whining. Saying that the game is too fast. You’ll know it’ll happen at some point.
