NBA making significant change with officiating

The NBA is making a significant change to its officiating process in a bid to speed up replay reviews.

Beginning Saturday, all NBA officials will begin wearing headsets during games. They will be able to communicate with each other through them, as well as with the NBA’s Replay Center in Secaucus, New Jersey.

For now, the officials will wear earpieces clipped to their uniforms that will not be worn during live play. In January, they will begin wearing them in their ears at all times, the league said in a statement.

"In the first phase, each referee will have an earpiece clipped on their uniform.  The referees will unclip the earpiece and place it in their ears only during instant replay review and as needed during other stoppages, but not during live play.

"Pending evaluation of the first phase, the second phase of use will begin with earpieces being worn throughout the game, including during live play, beginning in January.  During the second phase, referees will be able to communicate directly with the Replay Center and each other during at all times during the game. The second phase will run through at least the NBA All-Star break in February."