Hall of Famer Rick Barry, who starred in the NBA through 1965 to 1985, is appalled with the way the league has moved in terms of officiating. In particular, the former NBA champion is angered by the fact that the referees turn blind eye to obvious rule violations such as travelling, carrying the ball or setting moving screens.
Barry recalled a game between the Bulls and the Hawks in which he counted 59 uncalled moving screens and countless ball carries and travel violations. He described the officiating as ‘pathetic.’
“Get the officials to call it by the rule book. Stop the travelling, stop the carrying the ball, stop the moving screens, call the damn game according to the rule book because players will adjust,” Barry started his rant.
“If you’re going to allow them to get away with it, of course I’ll keep doing it. Call the game according to the rule book. It’s such an advantage to let the guy carry the basketball or take an extra step, that’s ridiculous, or a guy to move on offense. Why you’re giving all this advantage to guys? They’re breaking the rules. Call the game according to the rule book.
“I charted a game a few years ago Chicago – Atlanta, 59 moving screens weren’t called. 59! That’s insane. I can’t even tell how many times they carried the ball, how many times they travelled with the ball. It’s pathetic. For me to watch this game the way I was taught how to play the game and to watch this and what they allow to let go it’s an embarrassment. I’m sorry, it is.
“It’s an incredible game, the athletes are incredible, what they can do is incredible but they’re getting away with murder. I blame the officials. Call the damn game accordingly!”
