refs just don’t seem to like contact on the perimeter, and when the contact is minimal, it’s always a defensive foul. Don’t ask me why…it makes no sense. Thats just the way refs (all refs, not just SPTRs) operate these days. It’s too bad

Not to excuse bad officiating, but there’s the old unspoken “advantage gained” principle. That means a referee can opt not to make a call, because the rule violation did not result in advantage gained by the offender. You see it all the time. Guy gets fouled shooting, but no foul called because the shot goes in. Same foul on the next shooter gets called, because the shot is missed (assumption there is that the foul affected the shot = advantage gained). Of course, “hard” (subjective) fouls usually get called, no matter what. It seems unfair and definitely subjective, but seems necessary given how physical (the technically non-contact sport) basketball has become.

the defender has to be set on the hedge. If the refs were to be calling it by the book, the man hedging must get out and set his feet, forcing the ball handler to go around him. If he is set, any contact must be initiated by the offensive player and result in an offensive foul or no call. Usually, the ref will call the foul on the hedge because A) the defender wasn’t set or B) he was set, but not in an upright position (usually meaning he stuck his hip out). That’s what the refs are calling, but they are very inconsistent with it.