traveling or pushing??

[swkansasref33]

I have a push on B. He/she clearly gained an advantage by displacing player A

[SmokeEater]

To me timing is everything on a play like this. Were they both in contact withthe ball at the same time as the contact occurred. In other words was it a Bang, Bang play. Could the official have seen the contact as incidental when no one had possesion yet? Too many factors to consider without being there to see the play. I won't make a judgement on this one.

[81artmonk]

If as you say the contact could have been incidental, than it would have been a non-call. PLayer A though gained possession about 7 feet prior to player B. PLayer B going for the Rebound too, saw that she didn't get it and than Kept her momentum in order to guard PLayer A. thus the contact and knock down. I see what you are saying, but had it been incidental, than no call should have been made. Rather the Ref saw fit to call it traveling. Which in any stretch of the imagination, could have only been by her falling down without any contact or tripping. Since contact occured, I really don't see his call being correct.

[SmokeEater]

When you explain it this way, I would have to agree that it most likely "could have" been a push or block.

[BktBallRef]

Originally Posted by 81artmonk

If as you say the contact could have been incidental, than it would have been a non-call. PLayer A though gained possession about 7 feet prior to player B. PLayer B going for the Rebound too, saw that she didn't get it and than Kept her momentum in order to guard PLayer A. thus the contact and knock down. I see what you are saying, but had it been incidental, than no call should have been made. Rather the Ref saw fit to call it traveling. Which in any stretch of the imagination, could have only been by her falling down without any contact or tripping. Since contact occured, I really don't see his call being correct.

Wrong. If there's incidental contact and then the player travels, it's still traveling. You don't ignore the violation just because there was incidental contact.

[Camron Rust]

In general, I agree with the answers provided above (foul). However, if the timing is right....A and B get to the ball at the same time and bump each other from equally advantageous positions...I've got no foul....but a travel. While the contact may have caused the other to fall, the contact would not be illegal. Tough luck for the one that falls.

I had this EXACT call (bit at midcourt) in a 2 point game with <10 seconds left a few years ago....both players converged at the ball at nearly full speed. Both got their hands on the ball at the same time. They met belly-to-belly. One pulled a little harder and came away with the ball but also fell down. Travel.

[GarthB]

Provided that what you "saw" is what happened, I've got a push on B.

However, I'm always cautious on these because I don't know what the Ref saw, where the Ref was, where you were......

I've had a number of instances where a coach, fan or player, from his angle "saw" contact when in fact there was at least a foot of space between the players. The most common occurs on a fast break when the defender catches up to the shooter and takes a swipe, missing everything, but the shooter still blows the basket. From the bench, this can look very much like contact was made. The coach's brain connects the swipe to the miss and concludes contact.