Crab Dribble?
 

If you missed the Cavs vs Wizards NBE game today, there were some interesting events (some of which we talk about here). Look for it on ESPN. Here is an excerpt of a review:

LeBron James wants the NBA to take a closer look at what he calls his "crab dribble." The move, James insists, does not constitute traveling. A referee disagreed Sunday.

James was whistled for taking an extra step while driving for a potential tying layup with 2.3 seconds left, and his Cleveland Cavaliers lost 80-77.

``Bad call,'' said James, who compiled 30 points, 10 assists and six rebounds. ``We all make mistakes, and I think I got the wrong end of the bargain. I watched it 10 times after the game, and it was clearly a good play.''

Without raising his voice or getting particularly animated, James dissected the game's key sequence in extensive detail - even pointing out that he felt he was fouled as he released the shot, which went in. His biggest beef, though, was with what he considered a misunderstanding of the way he moved to the basket.

``You have your trademark play, and that's one of my plays. It kind of looks like a travel because it's slow, and it's kind of a high-step, but it's a one-two just as fluent as any other one-two in this league. I got the wrong end of it, but I think they need to look at it - and they need to understand that's not a travel,'' James said. ``It's a perfectly legal play, something I've always done.''

Indeed, Washington's Caron Butler - who scored 19 points and guarded James most of the game, including on that closing play - remembers that same move, without an official's call, from one of the teams' recent playoff meetings.

``I definitely knew he traveled, but I didn't know they were going to call it,'' Butler said about what happened Sunday. ``That was one of them situations in which a great player made a move, good officiating, and they called the call. And I was like, 'Oh, man, there is a God.'''
That was hardly the only contentious moment in a game between teams that faced each other the past three postseasons, with Cleveland winning every series.

…..Oh, and there was the ejection of Cavaliers coach Mike Brown, who ran nearly the length of the court to protest an offensive foul call against James with about 6 1/2 minutes left. The Cavs were down 70-54 early in the fourth quarter, then 71-58 after Butler made one of two technical free throws when Brown was tossed for all his pointing and yelling.

Ahhhhh Love the NBA...........

Maybe they need a couple games where there are no rules. You can walk, run, beat on the other team as much as you want. A no halds barred event worthy of the "Thunderdome"!! Two teams enter, one team leaves!

You know....the Thunderdome.....from Mad Max....Tina Turner/Mel Gibson......Master Blaster......

I hope I'm not dating myself with references to old movies.........

The last thing Lebron should want is for anybody to take a closer look at his moves.

No - if you referenced "The Great Train Robbery", to me that's an old movie. Or maybe not. ;)

If someone posts a video clip of the play that would be helpful and we could take a look.

It's on youtube. He looks like Jack jumping over the candlestick.

How about a link?

Looks to me like a poorly executed jump stop. Players and fans need to get this two steps crap out of their heads; it's all about the pivot foot.

Happens at the 2:00 mark of the video....and, IT'S NOT like Jack jumping over a candlestick.....it's a CRAB DRIBBLE! C'mon!!! ;)

I get it. A crab has 8 legs, so the pivot foot is a real mystery, just like when Lebron does practically anything.

My call is traveling.

Since I couldn't slow the tape down, so it took me a while to break it down but here is how I saw it:

1) He stopped his dribble (grabbing the ball with both hands) while his right foot was in contact with the floor.

2) He then proceeded to jump off his right foot.

3) He then landed on his left foot.

4) He then leaped off his left foot.

5) He then landed on his right foot.

6) He then leaped off his right foot in an attempt to shoot the ball.

Casebook traveling.

MTD, Sr.


P.S. What I really liked was the offensive foul for charging the was called against LaBron about a minute earlier in the game. He was trying to move diagonally across the defender and made full contact with the front of the defender's torso and knocked him down. The Cleveland HC recieved a free E-Ticket to the lockerroom because his protesting the foul against LaBron.

Fast and slow, looked like 3 steps to me...a poorly executed jumpstop.

Sorry LBJ, you are wrong on this one....they got it correct (unless the NBA rulebook allows for a pivot foot to be lifted and returned to the floor prior to releasing a shot).

That version of the crab dribble is clearly a travel.

You are CORRECT, sir! ;)