The Miami Heat simply are not going to stand for one of the NBA’s latest rules changes.
They aren’t allowed.
Such was the lesson learned Tuesday night.
Fifty-five seconds into the exhibition opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves at FTX Arena, referee Scott Foster stopped play to issue a bench-decorum warning to the Heat bench for players standing for an extended period amid the course of play.
Just as they had done last season. And the season before. And, basically any recent season amid Erik Spoelstra’s mandate of supporting teammates’ success.
But now the playing field for those not playing has changed, in the wake of players on many NBA teams not only blocking the view for extended periods of those seated behind, but also distractions and even contact with those involved in game action.
So, this season, NBA referees for such violations of bench decorum:
– First issue a warning to the bench for prolonged standing.
– Assess a Delay of Game warning if violation occurs again.
– Assess a second Delay of Game (resulting in a technical foul) for each additional occurrence of prolonged standing.
The NBA also clarified that, “Bench players and/or assistant coaches will not be penalized for spontaneously standing to celebrate plays; however, they must then sit back down on the bench in a reasonable amount of time.”
As Monty McCutchen, an NBA referee supervisor, noted during a preseason seminar, such bench exuberance grew out of the league encouraging such behavior in the absence of fans at the Disney World bubble setting utilized to finish the 2019-20 season amid the pandemic. Such behavior also was tolerated for 2020-21, with teams playing that season in the absence of fans or limits on attendance, including none in direct proximity to the court.
But last season the fans were back. And blocked. And the behavior reached the point of several warnings and fines issued to bench players interfering with the course of play. Such was the case with the $25,000 fine against then-Heat forward Markieff Morris for his actions in interfering with Atlanta Hawks forward De’Andre Hunter in Game 5 of last season’s opening-round playoff series.
But to Heat players, including those admonished Tuesday by Foster, the new regulations almost stand as a restraint of bench trade.
“That’s unfortunate,” captain Udonis Haslem said, with the Heat opening a two-game exhibition trip Thursday against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center, one that concludes Friday against the Memphis Grizzlies. “We pride ourselves on really enjoying other people’s success on this team. We really do that. We’re really happy for each other. It’s genuine.
“So we’re going to have to control some of those reactions and figure out ways to translate those messages to one another without breaking the rules.”
Typically, Heat bench players rise in unison and raise three fingers when a teammate attempts a 3-pointer.
“It kind of takes out the component of, you know, being a good teammate and cheering on your teammates, which we strive on here and we appreciate it,” forward Max Strus said. “I get it. The fans want to see the game, and the fans are probably getting upset with people standing.”
It is a fine line that the league is asking to be walked, forward Caleb Martin said.
“I’m not a fan of that, just because it does affect the enthusiasm of guys and you kind of are capping off how hype you can get,” he said. “And whenever you make a shot, you look over at your fans and guys are standing up and doing a dance and throwing up threes. That gives you an extra boost. The fact that they tell us we can’t do that, I’m not a fan of that.
“When fans stand up and block someone behind them, nobody’s telling them to sit down. That’s not a rule. I get people pay for those seats. But at the end of the day, you’re trying to get the full experience, and the full experience is you’re going to be right next to the players celebrating.”
But a rule is a rule, center Dewayne Dedmon said. So you adapt and adjust.
“I get it,” he said. “We just got to be more alert to our surroundings. I feel like they’re not stopping us from celebrating our teammates. So I’m going to do that no matter what. It’s just got to be about where I stand.”
