NEW YORK (AP) -The NBA’s president of basketball operations is confident replacement officials would perform well if they are needed when games begin.
The players aren’t so sure.
The NBA and its referees union have failed to reach an agreement on a new contract, so the league will begin training replacements this week. Without a new deal soon, those replacements would be used in games starting Oct. 1.
The officiating was criticized during the last lockout in 1995, but Joel Litvin says it will be better this time because the replacements are from the WNBA and NBA Development League and familiar with the NBA program.
But Lakers guard Derek Fisher, president of the players’ association, says the NBA’s referees are the best in the world and not having them on the floor is “unacceptable.”
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