NBA is reconsidering rules on traveling

In response to increased scrutiny in recent years, the NBA is examining rewriting its traveling rules as soon as next season. It may include allowing for two steps, not one as currently written, and possibly even a provision for LeBron James' famous, or infamous, depending on your perspective, crab-dribble move.

http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf ... ear_n.html

So instead of responding to the scrutiny by tightening up the calls, they're changing the rules to accommodate what has traditionally been called a travel in basketball? I guess if they change the rules then technically the calls won't seem as sketchy but you have to wonder where it ends. I like some of the changes the NBA has made the past couple of years with increased usage of instant reply to make sure they have the right calls but I think they're going the wrong way on this one.

David Stern has a man crush on LeBron James

Wow! Re-writing the rules on somethings is for the better.... but on travelling? If the NBA re-writes rules on travelling does it then trickle all the way down to youth basketball? Why not try to get the officials to call travelling for a change?

I think they should look into players getting too friendly with refs. some games players get unfair advantages because the refs like them.

...some games players get unfair advantages because the refs like them.

That's nothing new. Superstar players always got a break from the refs. Back in the 70s I saw cats(Dr.J, Earl Monroe) travel all the time and the refs never blew the whistle. Shit, refs never called palming on Jordan.

The funny part is they track the refs better than ever, and yet they keep getting worse. Especially after they reformed the ref tracking twice in the early 2000s, and then after whatshisface came along.

this sucks, who the James is that NBA wants to change their rools? it wouldn't surprise me if soon it would be allowed to take ball and walk with no dribble to the basket from one rim to another!

This is fucking ridiculous...

What else can you say?

What the fuck? Ridiculous indeed.

And Superstars should not have any unfair advantages when it comes to rules breaking. Just because you're famous doesn't mean you can be above the rules.

lol, change the rules for one Superstar,Whata load of s#hit very thoughtful from those who make the NBA rules

I seriously don't get it. They want to allow James' crab-dribble? When did they ever call it anyways??

It may include allowing for two steps, not one as currently written

What the heck does that mean? You're already allowed to do two steps. Players get a regularly no-call on three steps also, so what is this all about?

rule #1000

LeBron James is officially allowed to use crab-dribble, everyone else gonna be fouled on this move

signature: David Stern

rule #1001 Lebron James can tackle opponent team players like in nfl , if anybody will say he made a foul or will be hurt or will try to do same against James they will be out from the game.

It may include allowing for two steps, not one as currently written

What? There has always been two steps. The crab dribble is part of the two steps, isn't it basically a jump stop/pro hop/hop step?

b. A player who receives the ball while he is progressing(moving) or upon completion of a dribble, may use a two-count rhythm in coming to a stop, passing or shooting the ball.
The first count occurs:
(1) As he receives the ball, if either foot is touching the floor at the time he receives it.
(2) As the foot touches the floor, or as both feet touch the floor simultane-ously after he receives the ball, if both feet are off the floor when he receives it.
The second occurs:
(1) After the count of one when either foot touches the floor, or both feet touch the floor simultaneously.

So, they do allow three steps if both feet touch the floor at the same time after receiving a pass, which means you can take one more step or pivot.

So, if this rule is reviewed... What will happen to Manu Ginobili signature drive to the basket?

Defending quick/strong first step players should get harder now. Crap rules on crab dribbles. Once a player passes by a defender, the rule obviously will give players more space and time to do whatever wanted.

I havnt heard this anywhere else... thinking its bullshit. Luckily.

You cant screw with one of the fundamental rules of the game. Just doesnt work that way.

A rule change like that wouldn't change anything, they don't call it as it's written now. Most refs have long been calling it this way with the "last step = shot" defense.

It's better to just ignore the rules than to codify star violations. What's next, a rule that formally allows for Iverson's Ewing-plus "shuffle"? (When he cuts off-ball and gets the ball on the wing to shoot a jumper, the guy takes about fifteen steps without dribbling to create space. He does it a lot less than he used to as he's not as quick anymore, but he abused the hell out of this against slower defenders back in the day. And the refs never gave a crap.) Rip is another guy who used to take gobs of extra steps during off-ball cuts, but they started calling it on him a couple years ago so he's really cut that down. Larry Hughes was absuing the momentium rule too when he was younger, but in his case it was actually throwing off his shot as he would be jumping at an angle.

I think I hate skinny jump shooters or something. It's nowhere near as bad as overdribbling though. Although that's already been taken care of, Francis is gone, Marbury will soon be, and Davis is banished to Clipper-land. But I "digest"...