Instant Replay
As the digital era has taken off, and HDTV has become the standard by which basketball games are viewed, both college and professional leagues have resorted to using instant replay video monitors to review calls in games. The use of instant replay is controversial for several reasons such as delaying the game and eliminating the human element, also the fact that not ever play is reviewable. However, the goal of using replay is to get the call correct and to make up for the fact that high definition video cameras combined with slow motion video are better at catching things the naked human eye cannot see in real time. It is hard to imagine how many games in the past would have had different outcomes had crucial plays at the end of games been reviewed by referees. Calls as important as which team should get the ball after the balls knocked out of bounds can be the difference in the game. Also, referees are allowed to look at replays to determine if a player was in fact behind the 3 point line when he made a long distance jump shot. Both the NBA and NCAA are continuing to examine ways to enhance the use of instant replay without dragging games out for too long and ruining the fan experience.
In the classic 2008 NCAA Championship game, Memphis point guard and future NBA MVP, Derrick Rose made a shot clock buzzer beating 2 point shot that was originally rule a 3 pointer (25:26 mark). The call was eventually overturned, which helped set the stage for Mario Chalmers game tying 3 with 2 seconds left in the game. Had instant replay not been available one of the most famous shots in NCAA history would have meant nothing. This is a great example of how the game of basketball is flawed with human error, but can corrected with technology and also how making those necessary corrections can drastically change the outcome of a game, a season or even a life.