Steve Kerr, Gregg Popovich, More NBA Coaches Talk Dislike of Challenge System
The NBA implemented a challenge system this season in an effort to get more calls correct, but multiple head coaches have expressed their dislike for the system.
According to ESPN's Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst, Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors and Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs are two of the more notable coaches to speak out.
Kerr said: "I'm not a big fan."
Popovich added: "I tend not to do it, because I don't understand it. I don't get it, so I don't try."
Bontemps and Windhorst noted that there had been 174 challenges through Nov. 30, with 75 of them getting overturned—a rate of 43 percent. Even so, the complexity of the challenge system and the length of time it takes to finalize decisions have been widely panned.
Kerr specifically isn't a fan of the fact that the challenges interrupt the flow of the game, saying: "There's way too many stoppages in play. The challenges themselves are very confusing."
Charlotte Hornets head coach James Borrego agreed by opining that challenges are "lengthening the game," and New York Knicks head coach David Fizdale said the system "slows the game down."
Other coaches who expressed apprehensiveness or outright dislike for the challenge system were Erik Spoelstra (Miami Heat), Nick Nurse (Toronto Raptors), Luke Walton (Sacramento Kings), Brett Brown (Philadelphia 76ers) and Kenny Atkinson (Brooklyn Nets).
Kerr believes part of the issue is the fact that many of the challenged plays are judgment calls that still can't be definitively determined even through the use of replay: "I don't think it's adding to the game. This never-ending quest to get everything perfect, we're just chasing our tail. The fact is the referees have an enormously difficult job. You can watch a replay and two rational people can argue. I think we're trying for the impossible."
On Tuesday, a call that should have easily been overturned wasn't because of some confusion regarding the challenge rules.
Houston Rockets guard James Harden dunked the ball through the hoop with such force that it came back out. It was ruled no basket on the floor, but replays showed that it should have counted. Rockets head coach Mike D'Antoni was then not permitted to challenge because he waited too long.
The Rockets went on to lose the game to the San Antonio Spurs 135-133 in double overtime.
Growing pains are common when instituting a challenge system, as the NFL, NHL and MLB can attest to. Instant replay has become an important part of those leagues, and while it isn't perfect, it has undoubtedly helped improve the accuracy of the officiating.
If the NBA can work the kinks out of its system and perhaps narrow its focus, then it has a chance to achieve something similar in the near future.
