NBA Playoffs See 11% Rise in Foul Calls

Overview

• Referees have called about 11% more personal fouls per game in these playoffs than during the regular season.
• Monty McCutchen, who oversees referee development, says the game gets more intense in the postseason but the rulebook and principles stay the same.
• The NBA assigns a smaller pool of referees for the playoffs and trims that list after each round based on graded performance and tape review.
• Player and coach pushback has grown, including Victor Wembanyama’s ejection for elbowing Naz Reid and a midcourt meeting where the Lakers sought explanations after a loss.
• Historically, foul rates rise in the playoffs in 66 of 80 seasons, and this year’s increase above 10% is only the sixth occurrence in the last 60 years.