Fun With Both Feet And The Ball …

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

It was hard to predict that this would happen exactly as it did. It surprised me. It was more like a football play, quarterback handing off to a running back, than a basketball play. Of course with his football officiating background, for JRutledge this play would have been just another "day at the office".

It is not about predicting, but if I am the Center and there is a play near the division line, you know that could be hard for some situations for the Trail. In this play, the ball handler started down his side of the court and move to just the middle. It is having worked the system enough that something can blow up right there and you have to come and get it. Nothing was going on down the court that he had to be on top of at that moment. Again of course game situations can dictate this coverage, but this is also not unusual. Also, look at his head, he is looking back at the ball anyway. He should have been able to see this, but it would have been better if he was a few feet in the FC near the division line and caught this. And he would never be on the play shown by IAABO for likely missing the call. And this is a basic help play for the center in transition.

Peace

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

... there is a play near the division line ... that something can blow up right there and you have to come and get it.

It certainly did "blow up". When will players learn to not stop dribbling near the division line, or to not "hang out" anywhere near the division line hoping to catch a passed ball?

Back when I was coaching middle school basketball, I would teach my players that the division line was covered with a long linear stream of hot lava, and that the offensive lane was covered in hot coals.

One could momentarily touch those areas, but touch them more than a few seconds and one would get severely burned.