NBA playoff games are drawing about 11% more personal fouls per game than regular-season games this season, and senior vice president of referee development and training Monty McCutchen said the league has not changed its officiating standard in the postseason. [1, 2, 3, 4]
McCutchen said the playoff game is different because of the intensity of seven-game series and the tighter spaces in which players compete. He said the league wants to encourage “aggressiveness” but not “roughness,” and added, “We’re not putting our whistles in our pocket,” as officials try to balance playoff heat with the same standard used in the regular season. [1, 3, 4]
The foul rate has risen in the playoffs versus the regular season 66 times in the NBA’s 80-year history, and this season’s increase of more than 10% is only the sixth such case in the past 60 years. The five largest historical jumps, from 13% to 17%, came between 1949 and 1955. [1, 2, 3, 4]
The comments came as the league works through a postseason marked by increased physical play. Victor Wembanyama was ejected after elbowing Naz Reid in a game against Minnesota, and Spurs coach Mitch Johnson defended Wembanyama, saying opponents were trying to impose physicality on him. [1, 2, 3, 4]
The reports said McCutchen made the remarks at the NBA draft combine on Wednesday, with the league continuing to manage playoff officiating as the postseason unfolds. [1, 2, 3, 4]
