Did anyone catch the call on TNT last night on MJ vs. the Celtics? Michael put one up from about 10 feet in the center of the lane, it barely missed drawing iron, he followed his shot and somehow managed to catch his shot through a few other players before it hit the floor. I believe the call was traveling.

Hubie's comment: "Yeah, they determined it didn't hit the rim and so it was a 'self pass'. Good call."

I thought, why is that a travel? If it was a legitimate try (which it was) and he just happened to manage to fight harder to get there than anyone else and catch it, I think that should be legal.

Thoughts?

My thoughts . . .
 

(1) Don't watch the NBA if you want to learn basketball rules.

(2) For once, the TV sportscasters were right! In the NBA, a player may not rebound his own airball - it's a travel. (Okay, so they got the semantics wrong, but give them some slack - they all share one brain).

Thanks for the affirmation of Hubie's NBA rules knowledge.

How about the application in NFHS or NCAA?

NFHS Rule 4.40.2 A try for field goal is an attempt.....when the player has the ball and <b>in the official's judgment</b> is throwing or <b>attempting to throw</b> for goal.

Rule 4.40.4 The try ends when (the official is certain) the throw is ...unsuccessful or when the ball touches the floor.


This <b>could be</b> a travel, but you got to be careful when you call it, and be prepared to back up your call.1

As far as explaining rules correctly, that makes Hubie "1 for career."

So Dan, what I understand you're saying is: If in the ref's judgment it was a try, regardless of whether it was an airball or not (and in this case it barely missed the rim so there was little doubt it was a try), then in NF it would not be traveling if the shooter managed to hustle through and catch it in the air. The key is judgment on try or not try.

If that's what you're saying, I think I agree with you.

Anyone else have a different opinion?

No opinion
 

There really isn't any room for a differing opinion on this one. Dan's reference to NFHS Rule 4.40.2 is clear. In NF a player can catch their own shot. In NBA they cannot.

The NBA plays a completly different style of ball that is geared toward entertainment, which its rules help to support. ;)