MIAMI -- The NBA is going to take a look at having more officials on the court.The league said Monday that nine upcoming NBA Development League games will feature four- and five-person crews instead of the customary three, in an effort to collect data and see if having additional officials involved affects the game.All nine games will be hosted by the Long Island Nets at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, home of the NBAs Nets.The first of the trial games is Dec. 26.We are confident in how our three-person system works and are constantly thinking of ways to improve our game, said Bob Delaney, the NBAs Vice President for Referee Operations and Director of Officials. The four- and five-referee initiative is a prime example of that focus and will help the NBA with research and development.Its not the first time the D-League has been a laboratory of sorts for the NBA. The D-League has been a testing ground in the past for possible rules changes, along with changes in technology and equipment. This season, some of the innovations being brought to the D-League include a coachs challenge, a reset timeout and a 3-minute overtime period.Im a little more of the school of thought that the more people that are out there, the less accountability there is, Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said, adding that having more people on the floor will make the court seem even more crammed.Washington coach Scott Brooks said hes never thought of adding more refs, then offered a bit of a comical perspective.Itll just give me a couple extra guys to yell at, Brooks said. Thatll be great. I like it. Im tired of just yelling at three.The experimental crews will have three different configurations.Theres a four-person crew with two officials in lead spots, and two others split between slot and trail positions. Another four-person test will have two officials in the slot, with the others in the trail and lead. And the five-person crew will feature the existing three-person system, but with two other officials in stationary lead positions on opposite ends of the court.The NBA said five games will be devoted to the four-person tests, with the five-person tests being phased in starting Jan. 12. In all, 10 of the D-Leagues teams will be exposed to the larger crews.The NBA went from two-person crews to three-person crews for the 1988-89 season. Theres been talk of larger crews for years, and a four-person crew was studied during summer league play at Salt Lake City back in July.Discount Sports Jerseys . Peter Gammons, an analyst for Major League Baseballs network and website, drew the ire of hockey fans on Sunday when he criticized the two NHL teams on Twitter for their physical game the night before. Authentic Sports Jerseys . Giroud, who wasnt in the starting lineup for two matches after allegations about his private life and a decline in form, scored twice in the first half. Tomas Rosickys chip made it 3-0 before half time at Emirates Stadium, while defender Laurent Koscielny scored an unmarked header in the second half. https://www.discountsportsjerseyscheap.com/ .Y. - Rob Manfred was promoted Monday to Major League Baseballs chief operating officer, which may make him a candidate to succeed Bud Selig as commissioner. Sports Jerseys .C. -- Chris Thorburn thinks one of the reasons the Winnipeg Jets have been successful under new coach Paul Maurice is that theyre playing together as a team. Sports Jerseys Sale .com) - Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Roger Federer were easy first-round winners Tuesday at the Australian Open.ALAMEDA, Calif. -- Derek Carrs comfort level in changing plays at the line of scrimmage is a part of his game that has gone largely unnoticed while the Raiders worked their way into a tie for first in the AFC West.Its something that Carr is doing with more frequency and with more success -- like on his fourth-down touchdown pass to Michael Crabtree that put Oakland ahead to stay in its 34-31 win over the San Diego Chargers last week.Thats the way I love to play, Carr said Wednesday. I love having a lot put on my back. Any quarterback does. (Offensive coordinator Bill) Musgrave talks to me about his time with Matt Ryan, how he loved that and how were similar in that way. We just love that kind of stuff. I absolutely love it.Raiders coach Jack Del Rio said its just part of the natural progression for his third-year quarterback, who had a tremendous first month of the season while helping guide Oakland to its best start in more than a decade.Through five games, Carr has 11 touchdown passes with just two interceptions to go with a 102.3 rating and 66.8 completion percentage -- the latter two numbers being career-highs. The former second-round draft pick has also led the Raiders on seven game-winning drives in the fourth quarter or overtime during his brief NFL career, including twice already this season.Thats helped propel Oakland to a 4-1 start and a share of first place in the AFC West with defending Super Bowl champion Denver.While Carr certainly isnt at the level of autonomy that Peyton Manning had when he called every play at the line for the Colts and Broncos, his freedom to alter the calls coming in have added another layer to Oaklands fifth-ranked offense.Del Rio said allowing Carr to do more was something he and his coaching staff discussed during the offseason.As hes made good decisions and made accurate throws, and in those situations, we give him more leeway to do those things, Del Rio said. He sees it. He can understand what leverage hes getting. We dont have to guess from the sideline and make a call and then try to make it perfect, in terms of execution. You can see what you see and make the adjustment and make a play.Carr did just that in the third quuarter against the Chargers after Del Rio made the decision to go for it on 4th-and-3 from San Diegos 21-yard line rather than settle for a chip-in field goal attempt from Sebastian Janikowski.ddddddddddddMusgrave initially called for a passing play that had wide receivers Michael Crabtree and Amari Cooper running crossing patterns. Carr, noticing that Crabtree was in man-to-man coverage against Chargers cornerback Casey Hayward, switched up and audibled a fade to Crabtree.Crabtree easily beat Hayward down the field into the end zone to make his fifth touchdown reception of the year and help give the Raiders the lead.Carrs teammates say it was just another example of the young quarterbacks maturity and his confidence.The thing is, he wouldnt do it if he wasnt doing the right thing, Cooper said. Hell only audible if he feels like its the right thing to do, the right play to call. And he has the confidence in us that well go up and make the play for him.For the most part the Raiders give Carr a handful of plays to check into if a change needs to be made at the line. At other times, the quarterback is allowed to freelance and come up with his own plays.Most of the time the results have been good, like on the touchdown pass to Crabtree. Even then, Carr notices the coaching staff raising an eyebrow in his direction.As soon as the ball goes up, I laugh because I know what they were thinking, like `We didnt call that, Carr said with a laugh. Its nothing outside the framework of what they want me to do or being aggressive and those kinds of things. I would never do that kind of stuff, be an insubordinate. Im not like that.Game notesAustin Howard could be in line to start at right tackle. Rookie Vadal Alexander, who has started the previous two games while Menelik Watson and Howard nursed their way back from injuries, did not practice Wednesday because of a sore ankle he injured against San Diego. Watson (calf) was also held out along with running back Latavius Murray (toe).---Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '