Following is a link of Bob Delaney’s appearance (via Cisco TelePresence), which aired tonight on NBA TV GameTime. Bob talks about the Manu Ginobili flagrant foul on Tony Allen from Tuesday night as well as referee defense (reviews three examples) and the patience required of a referee in anticipating a physical series such as Pacers-Heat. View video>>

The Heat’s LeBron James and the Pacers’ David West have been fined $5,000 each for violating the league’s anti-flopping rules during Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals. View video>>

The Pacers’ Lance Stephenson has been fined $5,000 for violating the league's anti-flopping rules during Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals. View video>>

The Memphis Grizzlies Tony Allen has been fined $5,000 for violating the league's anti-flopping rules during the Grizzlies vs. Spurs game on May 21. View video>>

The National Basketball Association Concussion Policy is designed to maximize the neurological health of NBA players by providing a framework of education and clinical management. The policy was created under the core principle that each concussion, and each athlete, is unique. Optimum medical care depends on an individualized and comprehensive approach to concussion management. More>>

The New York Knicks J.R. Smith has been fined $5,000 for violating the league's anti-flopping rules during the Pacers vs. Knicks game on May 5. View video>>

Episode 1:
Following is a link to the debut of the "Bob Delaney Official Review" segment, which aired on NBA TV’s GameTime last night at approximately 6:40 p.m. ET. View video>>

Episode 2:
Following is a link of Bob Delaney’s appearance (via phone), which aired at approximately 8:20 p.m. ET on NBA TV’s GameTime. View video>>

The Oklahoma City Thunder’s Derek Fisher has been fined $5,000 for violating the league's anti-flopping rules during the Rockets vs. Thunder game on May, 1. View video>>

The Indiana Pacers Jeff Pendergraph has been fined $5,000 for violating the league's anti-flopping rules during the Hawks vs. Pacers game on May, 1. View video>>

Review where most of the teams will be positioned heading into the postseason here.

• Making the Call: Flagrant Fouls
• Making the Call: Aircheck

On the final play of the Houston Rockets’ 101-98 win over the Phoenix Suns on April 9, the Rockets’ James Harden attempted a three-point shot in which the basketball hit the rim and then popped into the air as time expired. After the buzzer, the Suns’ Jermaine O’Neal touched the ball while it was still above the rim and in the imaginary cylinder. Even though the buzzer had sounded, the ball was still “live” and therefore it could not be touched while in the cylinder. The referees correctly ruled the play goaltending on the floor, and confirmed the call on video. View video>>

Minnesota Timberwolves Ricky Rubio received a warning for violating the league's anti-flopping rule during the Thunder vs. Timberwolves game on Friday, March 29. View Video>>

Milwaukee Bucks J.J. Redick received a warning for violating the league’s anti-flopping rule during the Thunder vs. Bucks game on Saturday, March 30. View Video>>

Welcome to a new installment of the NBA Rule Authority. Throughout the season we will be posting explanations to some of the NBA's more complicated rules to help fans better enjoy the game. This week's topic is Basket Interference -Goaltending

Section I—A Player Shall Not:
a. Touch the ball or the basket ring when the ball is using the basket ring as its lower base or hang on the rim while the ball is passing through. EXCEPTION: If a player near his own basket has his hand legally in contact with the ball, it is not a violation if his contact with the ball continues after the ball enters the cylinder, or if, in such action, he touches the basket.
b. Touch any ball from within the playing area when it is above the basket ring and within the imaginary cylinder.
c. During a field goal attempt, touch a ball, which has a chance to score, after it has touched any part of the backboard above ring level, whether the ball is considered on its upward or downward flight.
d. During a field goal attempt, touch a ball, which has a chance to score, after it has touched the backboard below the ring level and while the ball is on its upward flight.
e. Trap the ball against the face of the backboard after it has been released. (To be a trapped ball, three elements must exist simultaneously. The hand, the ball and the backboard must all occur at the same time. A batted ball against the backboard is not a trapped ball.)
f. Touch any ball from within the playing area that is on its downward flight with an opportunity to score. This is considered to be a “field goal attempt” or trying for a goal.
g. Touch the ball at any time with a hand which is through the basket ring.
h. Vibrate the rim, net or backboard so as to cause the ball to make an unnatural bounce, or bend or move the rim to an off-center position when the ball is touching the ring or passing through.
i. Touch the rim, net or ball while the ball is in the net, preventing it from clearing the basket.

PENALTY: If the violation is at the opponent’s basket, the offended team is awarded two points, if the attempt is from the two point zone and three points if it is from the three point zone. The crediting of the score and subsequent procedure is the same as if the awarded score has resulted from the ball having gone through the basket, except that the official shall hand the ball to a player of the team entitled to the throw-in. If the violation is at a team’s own basket, no points can be scored and the ball is awarded to the offended team at the free throw line extended on either sideline. If there is a violation by both teams, no points can be scored, play shall be resumed by a jump ball between any two opponents in the game at the center circle.

Check back for additional installments and other topics or sign up for twitter alerts @NBAOfficial, and be sure to check out nba.com/videorulebook for a variety of explanatory rule videos.

Below is an example of “f” above and since it was an offensive player who touched the ball, Offensive Basket Interference is the ruling.

Play 1: Offensive basket interference

Making the Call: Is this a Legal Tip in?
View video>>
Making the Call: Traveling
View video>>

Danilo Gallinari of the Denver Nuggets has received a warning for violating the league’s anti-flopping rule during the Nuggets vs. Hornets game on Monday, March 25. View video>>

Omer Asik of the Houston Rockets violated the league's anti-flopping rules for the second time during the Rockets vs. Spurs game on Sunday, March 24. He has been fined $5,000. View video>>

Ricky Rubio attempted a 3-point shot at the buzzer of the Los Angeles Lakers’ 120-117 win over the Timberwolves on March 27. Video review by the league office confirmed that Kobe Bryant fouled Rubio while Rubio was in his shooting motion. Rubio should have been awarded three free throws. Click video here.

Chris Paul of the Los Angeles Clippers has received a warning for violating the league’s anti-flopping rule during the Clippers vs. Kings game on Tuesday, March 19. View video>>

Tyreke Evans of the Sacramento Kings has received a warning for violating the league’s anti-flopping rule during the Kings vs. Clippers game on Tuesday, March 19. View video>>

Explanation of You Make the Call Video: Click here to view video

This is an example of a jump ball violation. Neither jumper may catch the tossed or tapped ball until it touches one of the eight non-jumpers, the floor, the basket or the backboard. Here, #20 of the Utah Jazz taps the ball then catches it.

PENALTY: The ball is awarded out-of-bounds to the opposing team.

With 4.9 seconds remaining in the Atlanta Hawks' 96-92 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on March 13, the Lakers' Kobe Bryant attempted a jump shot over the Hawks' Dahntay Jones. After review at the league office, video replay confirmed that referees missed a foul call on Jones as he challenged Bryant's shot and did not give him the opportunity to land cleanly back on the floor. Bryant should have been granted two free throws. Click video here.

Corey Brewer of the Denver Nuggets has received a warning for violating the league’s anti-flopping rule during the Nuggets vs. Clippers game on Thursday, March 7. View video>>

Explanation of You Make the Call Video: Click here to view video.

This is an example of a split travel violation. In starting a dribble after (1) receiving the ball while standing still, or (2) coming to a legal stop, the ball must be out of the player’s hand before the pivot foot is raised off the floor. Here, Delfino establishes his left foot as his pivot foot and clearly raises that foot prior to releasing his dribble.

PENALTY: Loss of ball. The ball is awarded to the opposing team at the sideline, nearest spot of the violation but no nearer the baseline than the foul line extended.

After review at the league office, video replay confirmed that NBA Officials missed a foul call against Denver’s Andre Iguodala late in the Nuggets-Indiana Pacers game on January 28 when the game was tied at 101. Iguodala reached for the ball and made illegal body contact which forced Indiana’s Paul George to lose possession. George should have been granted two free throws with 2.2 seconds remaining in the game. Click video here.

With 1.5 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter of the Dallas Mavericks-Portland Trail Blazers game on January 29, officials called a charging foul on Dallas’ OJ Mayo. After review at the league office, the video replay confirmed the play should have been ruled a blocking foul as Portland’s Ronnie Price did not get his body directly in Mayo’s path prior to him starting his upward shooting motion. Mayo should have been granted two free throws. Click video here.

C.J. Watson of the Brooklyn Nets has received a warning for violating the league's anti-flopping rule during the Nets vs. Timberwolves game on Jan. 23. View video>>

Kevin Martin of the Oklahoma City Thunder violated the league's anti-flopping rules for the second time during the Thunder vs. Nuggets game on Jan. 20, he has been fined $5,000. View video>>

J.J. Barea of the Minnesota Timberwolves violated the league's anti-flopping rules for the second time during the T'Wolves vs. Mavericks game on Jan. 14, he has been fined $5,000. View video>>

With one second remaining in overtime of the Chicago Bulls-Toronto Raptors game on January 16, officials called a foul on Chicago’s Joakim Noah as Toronto’s Amir Johnson gathered the ball while driving to the basket. The officials ruled the foul was on the floor but upon review at the league office, the video replay confirmed that the foul should have been called a shooting foul with Johnson receiving two free throws. Click video here.

Welcome to our second installment of the NBA Rule Authority in the 2012-13 season. We will continue to post explanations to this page to some of the NBA's more complicated rules throughout the season. This week's topic is trajectory of defenders in the Restricted Area (RA).

We get a lot of questions about block charge plays and the RA (see block-charge explanation posted January 23, 2012). In this installment, we'll discuss when defenders may be in the RA and what they can do if they're in it, much of which hinges on the defender's "verticality."

First, if a driving offensive player received the ball inside the lower defensive box, which is the area from the bottom tip of the free throw circle to the endline between the two 3’ posted-up marks, a secondary defender can be in the RA and draw an offensive foul if (i) he established a legal guarding position before the offensive player's upward shooting motion, and (ii) the contact is more than marginal.

However, if the offensive player received the ball outside the lower defensive box , the secondary defensive can only draw an offensive foul inside the RA if (i) he is in a legal guarding position before the offensive player's upward shooting motion, (ii) he jumps vertically in an attempt to defend the shot, and (iii) the contact is more than marginal. If all of these factors are met, the contact is an offensive foul, otherwise, it is a defensive foul (unless the offensive player did something unnatural and/or dangerous).

Below are two examples that will help you better understand what it is referees are looking for on these types of plays.

Play 1: Legal Defensive play, defender jumps vertically:
http://www.nba.com/video/channels/originals/2013/01/16/defensive-foul.nba/index.html

Play 2: Defensive Foul, Not Verticality, defender jumps toward offensive player:
http://www.nba.com/video/channels/originals/2013/01/16/legal-defensive-play.nba/index.html

Check back for additional installments and other topics or sign up for twitter alerts @NBAOfficial, and be sure to check out nba.com/videorulebook for a variety of explanatory rule videos.

Explanation of You Make the Call Video: Click here to view video.

Backcourt Violation
This is an example of a momentum play that is correctly ruled a legal play and NOT a backcourt violation. Frontcourt/backcourt status is not attained until a player with the ball has established a positive position in either half during (1) a jump ball, (2) a steal by a defensive player, (3) a throw-in in the last two minutes of the fourth period and/or any overtime period or (4) any time the ball is loose.

Tony Parker of the San Antonio Spurs has received a warning for violating the league's anti-flopping rule during the Spurs vs. Rockets game on Dec. 28. (View video>>)

Royal Ivey of the Philadelphia 76ers has received a warning for violating the league's anti-flopping rule during the 76ers vs. Grizzlies game on Dec. 26. (View video>>)

Gustavo Ayon of the Orlando Magic has received a warning for violating the league's anti-flopping rule during the Magic vs. Hornets game on Dec. 26. (View video>>)

Omer Asik of the Houston Rockets has received a warning for violating the league's anti-flopping rule during the Rockets vs. Spurs game on Dec. 10. View video>>

Zaza Pachulia of the Atlanta Hawks has received a warning for violating the league's anti-flopping rule during the Hawks vs. Wizards game on Dec. 7. View video>>

Chauncey Billups of the Los Angeles Clippers has received a warning for violating the league's anti-flopping rule during the Clippers vs. Jazz game on Dec. 3. View video>>

Gerald Wallace of the Brooklyn Nets violated the league's anti-flopping rules for the second time during the Nets vs. Heat game on Dec. 1, he has been fines $5,000. View video>>

Welcome to our first installment of the NBA Rule Authority for the 2012-13 season. Similar to last year we will be posting on this page explanations to some of the NBA's more complicated rules to help fans better enjoy the game. This week's topic is Defensive Fouls in the Post.

A player shall not hold, push, charge into or impede the progress of an opponent by extending a hand, arm, leg or knee or by bending the body into a position that is not normal.

Contact that results in the re-routing of an opponent is a foul which must be called immediately. Contact initiated by the defensive player guarding a player with the ball is not legal. This contact includes, but is not limited to, forearm, hands, or body check.

EXCEPTIONS:
(1) A defender may apply contact with a forearm to an offensive player with the ball who has his back to the basket below the free throw line extended outside the Lower Defensive Box.

(2) A defender may apply contact with a forearm and/or one hand with a bent elbow to an offensive player in a post-up position with the ball in the Lower Defensive Box.

(3) A defender may apply contact with a forearm to an offensive player with the ball at any time in the Lower Defensive Box. The forearm in the above exceptions is solely for the purpose of maintaining a defensive position.

(4) A defender may position his leg between the legs of an offensive player in a postup position in the Lower Defensive Box for the purpose of maintaining defensive position. If his foot leaves the floor in an attempt to dislodge his opponent, it is a foul immediately.

(5) Incidental contact with the hand against an offensive player shall be ignored if it does not affect the player’s speed, quickness, balance and/or rhythm.

Check back for additional installments and other topics or sign up for twitter alerts @NBAOfficial, and be sure to check out nba.com/videorulebook for a variety of explanatory rule videos.

Below are three examples that will help you better understand what it is referees are looking for on these types of plays.

Play 1: Defensive Foul in the post, two hands by post defender
http://www.nba.com/video/channels/originals/2012/12/03/bballops-09-324-seq-audio.nba/index.html

Play 2: Defensive Foul in the post, post defender uses straight arm
http://www.nba.com/video/channels/originals/2012/12/03/bballops-10-566-seq-audio.nba/index.html

Play 3: Defensive Foul in the post, dislodging, defender uses knee
http://www.nba.com/video/channels/originals/2012/12/03/bballops-10-453-seq-audio.nba/index.html

Gerald Wallace of the Brooklyn Nets has received a warning for violating the league's anti-flopping rule during the Nets vs. Knicks game on Nov. 26. View video>>

Explanation of You Make the Call Video: Click here to view video

Offensive Foul
This play is an example of an offensive foul on #88 for pushing an opponent into another offensive player while he is in the act of shooting. A player shall not hold, push, charge into, impede the progress of an opponent by extending a hand, arm, leg or knee or by bending the body into a position that is not normal. Contact that results in the re-routing of an opponent is a foul which must be called immediately. Contact initiated by the defensive player guarding a player with the ball is not legal. This contact includes, but is not limited to, forearm, hands, or body check.

Patrick Patterson of the Houston Rockets has received a warning for violating the league's anti-flopping rule during the Rockets vs. Knicks on Nov. 23. View video>>

On the final possession of Charlotte's 98-97 win over Toronto on Nov. 21, the game officials missed a foul by Charlotte's Michael Kidd-Gilchrist against Toronto's Andrea Bargnani on a jump shot. Bargnani should have been given two free throws and the clock stopped with approximately 2.4 seconds remaining in the game. View video>>

Reggie Evans of the Brooklyn Nets violated the league's anti-flopping rules for the second time during the Nets vs. Lakers game on Nov. 20. For this violation, he has been fined $5,000. View video>>

Reggie Evans of the Brooklyn Nets has received a warning for violating the league's anti-flopping rule during the Nets v. Celtics game on Nov. 15. View video>>

With 10:16 remaining in the fourth period of the Oklahoma City vs. Detroit game (Nov. 12) Kevin Martin of the Thunder commits a physical act that was a flop under the League’s rule on flopping. He has received a warning in regards to this violation of the League’s rule on Flopping. View video>>

Each day during the season on Media Central, the NBA will post which players were warned or fined for flopping violations with video of each of the violations. This weekend, the NBA issued warnings to ...

Minnesota's Barea Receives Flopping Warning
With 10.04 remaining in the fourth period of the Minnesota vs. Sacramento game (Nov. 2) JJ Barea of the Timberwolves committed a physical act that was a flop under the League's rule on Flopping. He has received a warning in regards to this violation of the League's rule on Flopping. View video>>

Cleveland's Sloan Receives Flopping Warning
With 5.58 remaining in the fourth period of Cleveland's game vs. Chicago (Nov. 2), Donald Sloan of the Cavaliers committed a physical act that was a flop under the League's rule on Flopping. He has received a warning in regards to this violation. View video>>

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Explanation of Anti-Flopping Rule
In an effort to curb the unsportsmanlike practice known as "flopping," the NBA implemented an anti-flopping rule starting in the 2012-13 season. Click here for Explanation | Click here for Video | Click here Press Release

To view Situations and Procedures, click here

In an effort to curb the unsportsmanlike practice known as “flopping,” the NBA implemented an anti-flopping rule starting in the 2012-13 season.

A "flop" is an attempt to either fool referees into calling undeserved fouls or fool fans into thinking the referees missed a foul call by exaggerating the effect of contact with an opposing player.

The main factor in determining whether a player committed a flop is whether his physical reaction to contact with another player is inconsistent with what would have been expected given the force or direction of the contact. For example, a player will be considered to have committed a “flop" if he falls to the floor following minimal contact or lunges in a direction different from the direction of the contact.

The determination of whether a player has violated the flopping rule will be made by the League following video review of the play. (Game officials will not make determinations about flopping during games.)

The first time a player is determined to have committed a flop, he will be warned by the NBA. Thereafter, the following automatic penalties will apply:
Violation 2: $5,000 fine
Violation 3: $10,000 fine
Violation 4: $15,000 fine
Violation 5: $30,000 fine

For a sixth (or any subsequent) violation of the rule, the player will be subject to such discipline as the League determines is reasonable under the circumstances, including an increased fine and/or suspension.

Click the here to view several plays that illustrate how the rule will be administered during the season (i.e., what conduct will be considered a “flop” and what conduct will not).

CHICAGO -- Brian McIntyre, Senior Communications Advisor to NBA Commissioner David Stern, was named the winner of the 2012 Splaver/McHugh "Tribute to Excellence" Award last night during the NBA’s PR Meetings.
McIntyre assumed his current position in August 2010 after a three-decade career in the league’s public relations and communications departments. The award is given annually by the NBA Public Relations Directors’ Association to a current or former member of the NBA public relations family who has demonstrated an outstanding level of performance and service during his or her NBA career.
McIntyre began his NBA career in November 1981 as Director of Public Relations, and was named Vice President in 1989. Over nearly 30 years – 1982-2010 – McIntyre oversaw P.R. activities for every major NBA event, including The Finals, NBA All-Star, the NBA Draft, the NBA Draft Lottery, and the McDonald's Championship.
Under his stewardship, the NBA’s Public Relations Department expanded to become the Communications Group, and in November 1997 he was named Senior Vice President. During his tenure, McIntyre helped launch both the WNBA and the NBA Development League. He also was instrumental in the development and implementation of many of the communications policies and procedures currently in place for all three leagues. The numerous NBA awards McIntyre created include the Defensive Player of the Year award, the Sixth Man Award, and the Most Improved Player. He was responsible for initiating White House visits by NBA championship teams, creating a media training program for players, instituting the use of satellite postgame feeds at major NBA events, and a host of other initiatives.
McIntyre’s influence also has extended in to the international realm of the sport. In conjunction with USA Basketball, McIntyre was actively involved in public relations planning, activities, and onsite execution of the 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, and 2008 Olympics and the 1994, 2002, and 2006 World Championship of Basketball. McIntyre also has served as a member of the FIBA (International Basketball Federation) News Council and on the USA Basketball Media Advisory Committee.
The Professional Basketball Writers Association honored McIntyre in 2010 when the organization named its annual media relations tribute "The Brian McIntyre Media Relations Award." And in 2011, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame honored McIntyre with the John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award, the most prestigious award the organization presents outside of enshrinement.
A graduate of Loyola University of Chicago, McIntyre began his professional career with the Chicago Bulls, where he served as Director of Marketing and Media Information for three and a half years before joining the League office. The Splaver/McHugh award is named in memory of two of the most highly respected public relations executives in NBA history, Marc Splaver and Howie McHugh. Splaver, who passed away from leukemia in May 1978, was the Public Relations Director of the Washington Bullets for five seasons in the 1970's. McHugh served for more than 40 years as the original Public Relations Director of the Boston Celtics.

The NBA lost a distinguished member of its family when Jacob R. Butler passed away last Thursday at the age of 61. Butler was a former Chaplain for the Washington Wizards from 1999-2009. A sports enthusiast, Butler was introduced to the Wizards by longtime friend and Hall of Famer, Wes Unseld. Alongside team Chaplain, Joel Freeman, Butler shared Bible teachings and offered counseling to the players before every home game. Later, when asked to become the team's full-time Chaplain, Butler attended numerous games, traveled to NBA All-Star Weekends and also had the pleasure of officiating marriages of several NBA players. Butler is survived by his wife, Debbie; Vera Butler, mother of his three children; Jake, Kamla, J’Nay and stepdaughter, Brittney.

Royal Ivey of the Philadelphia 76ers has received a warning for violating the league's anti-flopping rule during the 76ers vs. Grizzlies game on Dec. 26. (View video>>)