5 NBA rule changes the Toronto Raptors need to see next season

No. 1: Coaches’ challenge.

The NBA implemented the coach’s challenge in 2019-20 on a trial basis. It was successful enough an experiment to return for a second season. A team can request an instant replay review once per game in response to a referee’s decision.

If they challenge that decision and are successful then the call they challenge would be reversed. If the call on the floor is upheld then the challenging team loses a timeout. Now, after two full seasons of evaluating the use of video review in the Association, it’s clear that the coach’s challenge is flawed.

Allowing NBA referees to get calls right is important. No one wants to see mistakes in the way a game is officiated, especially in the late and crucial moments of a contest. If an egregious error is made, there should be an opportunity to correct it.

The biggest problem here is that there is only one opportunity to challenge. If Nick Nurse uses his challenge in the first quarter, he won’t be able to trigger one in the fourth.

While it would slow down and lengthen games to allow more video reviews, increasing the number of challenges is a good trade-off for getting calls right. Doubling the current number of coach’s challenges to two also isn’t enough. Instead, the league should institute a brand new rule.

The Raptors could stop getting robbed on bad calls.

In every NBA game, teams get seven timeouts during regulation play. Each of these timeouts should be used as currency. Either a team can cash them in for the break they’re intended to provide or use them to trigger a video review.

The first two challenges a team requests get treated differently. If the call on the floor is upheld, the team loses a timeout. If it is overturned then the team keeps the timeout. After the initial two coach’s challenges then a team can only request a review by burning a timeout.

This has the added benefit of inserting intrigue into the way coaches choose to manage their timeouts. Timeouts are generally not very interesting.

Adding a new dynamic for fans to scrutinize is just another element that would make NBA games more fun to watch. More importantly, by allowing up to nine video reviews per team, there should be less anger directed toward referees because teams have the opportunity to get calls right.

The timeout process would otherwise not be changed. Regularly scheduled TV timeouts would take place in order for broadcasters to air commercials. Also, after the three-minute mark in the fourth quarter, each team could only use a maximum of two team timeouts anyway.

The NBA has made plenty of rule changes over the years to adapt to the way the game is progressing. The current product continues to require updating and perhaps, through these proposed five rule changes, Raptors games can be even more fun to watch.