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NBA turning to replay center for some on-court decisions in 2015-16

The NBA will turn to its replay center to determine certain in-game outcomes this season.
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The NBA will turn to its replay center to determine certain in-game outcomes this season.

The league announced Wednesday that the Board of Governors had unanimously approved modifications to the instant-replay process.

In addition to the three referees working on-court, current NBA refs will be staffed in the replay center in Secaucus, N.J., to make decisions on some replay situations and assist with the on-court review of others. 

On-court refs will continue to trigger all replay reviews, but in some circumstances, the replay center will then have the power to make calls and relay them back to the game's crew chief. The replay center will determine instances including whether a field goal was a two- or three-point attempt, end-of-quarter made field goals, out-of-bounds calls, goaltending and potential shot-clock violations.

“Many instances in our 15 instant-replay triggers are very straightforward and do not need the involvement of the oncourt game officials to accurately determine the result,” said Kiki VanDeWeghe, NBA Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.  “Flow of game is crucial to basketball so a quicker result will help our players and coaches return to action faster.”

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As provided by the league, here is the official replay jurisdiction on a situational basis.

Replay Review Outcomes to be Determined by Referees in the Replay Center

1.         2-Point/3-Point Field Goal (made shot or foul)

2.         Made Basket – End of Period

3.         Out-of-Bounds

4.         Shot Clock Violation (on Made Field Goal)

5.         Goaltending/Basket-Interference

6.         Clock Malfunction Situation (non-foul or non-violation involved)

7.         24-Second Shot Clock Reset

8.         Number of Players on the Court

Replay Review Outcomes to be Determined by On-Court Referees

1.         Flagrant Foul

2.         Clear-Path-to-the-Basket Foul

3.         Off-Ball Foul

4.         Player Altercation

5.         Foul – End of Period

6.         Shot Clock Violation (involving foul call)

7.         Correct Free Throw Shooter

8.         Clock Malfunction Situation (foul or violation involved)

9.         Restricted Area

Jeremy Woo