The 9-step pivot
 

Kendrick Perkins of the Cavs takes 9 steps with no travel called. I know it's the NBA but at least make an effort.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6MZTh6qRgA


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He's not pressured, he's not moving from his spot on the floor. Why is anyone surprised nobody noticed the travel -- do you folks stare at the ball handler's feet when he's not pressured?

I don't stare at a players feet but I try to stay far enough away and maintain a good angle in order to be able to see the entire player. I actually think the travel here was probably easier to catch earlier rather than later. I can see your point about not staring at his feet but in the first few steps after initial catch is when the travel seems most obvious to me. You would think someone should have been watching that action.

On second thought, it was Kendrick Perkins, so the crew was probably looking for off-ball fouls against players trying to get open for a pass from Perk. I'm a Thunder fan and a FoP (Friend of Perk; his semi-unofficial fan club while he was in OKC), but everyone had to know he wasn't going to make a move to score the ball.

I'm guessing they'll regret not getting this.

Stare, no. Notice, yes. That's our job. Identify the pivot foot. Pivot foot up + pivot foot down = travel.

This guy took nine steps, because we allow these fundamentals to erode.

He took 9 steps because he has no business with the ball in his hands more than 3 feet from the rim. The refs missed it, likely because they never see him with the ball more than 3 feet from the rim and he wasn't being guarded. It happens.

It reminded me so much of the YMCA games I've done where the biggest kid on the court suddenly finds himself with the ball and no clue what to do next.

Rich, this one is a bit much even for you to defend.

Not defending, just not surprised.

Doesn't appear anyone there actually cared, either, so why should we?

man that was funny. I think HS and college refs would have seen it but NBA really teaches to watch off-ball stuff and to know the players. KP isn't going to do anything there.

I am with Rich on this one. Yeah you could have called it, but like Rich said, no one really would have cared.

Peace

No travel, no advantage.

I might buy that for 2 or 3 steps, but this is just embarrassing to miss (and I'd bet the official responsible for this would agree).

So, if a player steps OOB with no one on them and doesn't get anything out of it, it is not a violation either? (Violations are not advantage/disadvantage situations).

Sure they are, despite all the hand-wringing. I'm sure you've seen someone with a foot on the far lane line for more than 3 seconds and haven't called it.