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Cavaliers' star insists call was bad
By George M. Thomas
Beacon Journal sports writer
POSTED: 07:44 p.m. EST, Jan 06, 2009
INDEPENDENCE: Call it the crab that wouldn't die.
Sounds like a bad B-movie title, but the controversial traveling call on LeBron James at the end of the Cavaliers' loss to the Washington Wizards on Sunday just won't go away.
James insists it was a bad call.
ESPN television analysts have even dissected James' crab dribble, a hesitation move the Cavs forward said he uses to slow down defenses.
Miss it? Check Youtube.
''It's easy for people who don't play the game of basketball to say something about a certain move,'' James said. ''You hear people on SportsCenter talk about it but they've never touched a basketball in their life. They just report about it.''
Some of the Wizards certainly had fun with it.
When asked if he knew what a crab dribble was, the Wizards' Antawn Jamison said in a published report: ''I know what a traveling is. . . . I think we all know what traveling is.''
There was little that could change James' mind about referee Bill Spooner's call that waved off a tying basket.
''Absolutely,'' James said when asked if he thought it was still a bad call. ''Just knowing my moves and knowing what I've done, I've done that move plenty of times and I believe it's a good move.''
James said he won't second guess whether he goes to the hoop in that manner again, but he thinks that officiating the game has changed.
''I'm not downplaying what (referees) do, but it is tougher for the guys who are bigger, stronger, faster who can do a lot things that they couldn't do back in the '60s and '70s,'' he said
The NBA stands by the call, a league spokesman said Monday. Cavs guard Daniel Gibson said that the call can be difficult to make and coach Mike Brown agreed.
''I think you can go either way,'' Brown said. ''That's a tough call. Even if they did say the call was a bad call, was that the reason that we lost?
''No, and at the end of the day I think we're a good enough team to not have to blame a win or loss on a particular call.''
James remains pragmatic about what could happen.
''If they call it more consistently, then I guess it's not a good move,'' he said. ''I'll be able to change my game. If it's not called consistently, I don't know.''
Actually he does know.
Officials started calling his jump move in a similar manner a few years back and James adapted.
''If they take it away — like they did with one of my moves before — like they did when I had the hop step my first two years, I'll find a way to do something else,'' he said.
But won't it be tough to adjust if that should happen?
''You tell me,'' James said. ''How have I fared after that?''
No peering into future
With the Charlotte Bobcats in town for tonight's game, it wouldn't be a stretch to assume that the Cavs might be looking ahead to Friday when a rematch with the Boston Celtics is on the schedule.
James said that's not the case.
''That's not us,'' he said. ''It's not tough because that's never been us to look past a team or an opponent. We're all NBA players for a reason, no matter the record, and we have to go out there and play no matter who's on the floor with us.''
Boobie's immortality
Gibson looked at his likeness on a bobblehead doll that will be given away at tonight's game and pronounced it a success, right down to the star etched in its head.
''I'm like a big kid right now,'' Gibson said. ''I have about 20 of them throughout my house everywhere. It's cool to be able to see (yourself) as a little mannequin, a bobblehead doll. It's going to be a lot of fun.''
Quick shot
The league won't be fining James for the frankness of his comments regarding the traveling call in Washington.
George M. Thomas can be reached at sportswriterabj@sbcglobal.net. Read the Cavs blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/cavs/.
INDEPENDENCE: Call it the crab that wouldn't die.
Sounds like a bad B-movie title, but the controversial traveling call on LeBron James at the end of the Cavaliers' loss to the Washington Wizards on Sunday just won't go away.
James insists it was a bad call.
ESPN television analysts have even dissected James' crab dribble, a hesitation move the Cavs forward said he uses to slow down defenses.
Miss it? Check Youtube.
''It's easy for people who don't play the game of basketball to say something about a certain move,'' James said. ''You hear people on SportsCenter talk about it but they've never touched a basketball in their life. They just report about it.''
Some of the Wizards certainly had fun with it.
When asked if he knew what a crab dribble was, the Wizards' Antawn Jamison said in a published report: ''I know what a traveling is. . . . I think we all know what traveling is.''
There was little that could change James' mind about referee Bill Spooner's call that waved off a tying basket.
''Absolutely,'' James said when asked if he thought it was still a bad call. ''Just knowing my moves and knowing what I've done, I've done that move plenty of times and I believe it's a good move.''
James said he won't second guess whether he goes to the hoop in that manner again, but he thinks that officiating the game has changed.
''I'm not downplaying what (referees) do, but it is tougher for the guys who are bigger, stronger, faster who can do a lot things that they couldn't do back in the '60s and '70s,'' he said
The NBA stands by the call, a league spokesman said Monday. Cavs guard Daniel Gibson said that the call can be difficult to make and coach Mike Brown agreed.
''I think you can go either way,'' Brown said. ''That's a tough call. Even if they did say the call was a bad call, was that the reason that we lost?
''No, and at the end of the day I think we're a good enough team to not have to blame a win or loss on a particular call.''
James remains pragmatic about what could happen.
''If they call it more consistently, then I guess it's not a good move,'' he said. ''I'll be able to change my game. If it's not called consistently, I don't know.''
Actually he does know.
Officials started calling his jump move in a similar manner a few years back and James adapted.
''If they take it away — like they did with one of my moves before — like they did when I had the hop step my first two years, I'll find a way to do something else,'' he said.
But won't it be tough to adjust if that should happen?
''You tell me,'' James said. ''How have I fared after that?''
No peering into future
With the Charlotte Bobcats in town for tonight's game, it wouldn't be a stretch to assume that the Cavs might be looking ahead to Friday when a rematch with the Boston Celtics is on the schedule.
James said that's not the case.
''That's not us,'' he said. ''It's not tough because that's never been us to look past a team or an opponent. We're all NBA players for a reason, no matter the record, and we have to go out there and play no matter who's on the floor with us.''
Boobie's immortality
Gibson looked at his likeness on a bobblehead doll that will be given away at tonight's game and pronounced it a success, right down to the star etched in its head.
''I'm like a big kid right now,'' Gibson said. ''I have about 20 of them throughout my house everywhere. It's cool to be able to see (yourself) as a little mannequin, a bobblehead doll. It's going to be a lot of fun.''
Quick shot
The league won't be fining James for the frankness of his comments regarding the traveling call in Washington.
George M. Thomas can be reached at sportswriterabj@sbcglobal.net. Read the Cavs blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/cavs/.
Comments
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Posted 08:11 PM, 01/06/2009
I'll tell you how LeBron can alter that move so the refs don't call it traveling...well, maybe they will anyway. Jim Jackson had one of the best dropsteps in the paint when he played at OSU. If LeBron would do a true drop step where he lands on both feet at the same time and then goes up, he might get away with the call. As big and as strong as he is, he could plow through people and then go up and dunk with two hands.
Akron, Oh
Posted 08:35 PM, 01/06/2009
I dont care if he messes up I still love him and the team......GO CAVS
Sharon Twp, Oh
Posted 08:55 PM, 01/06/2009
4 steps is travelling.
Posted 09:02 PM, 01/06/2009
I guess even LeBron's crabs have a sense of entitlement. You traveled, kiddo. You always travel. At long last, a travel was finally called. Find a travel agent. Better yet, get over it.
Tallmadge, OH
Posted 08:06 AM, 01/07/2009
He did travel. He needs to learn to shutup and take it like a man, or the refs will just call him for more in future games. You never win by picking on the refs and getting them angry.
Akron, OH
Posted 09:13 AM, 01/07/2009
Bad example for the kiddies. Ref Grump never lets the rec center hotshots get away with it. Neither should the NBA. Get over that preconceived notion of entitlement and play by the rules.
This Place, 32
Posted 11:10 AM, 01/07/2009
Is this really a topic that merits a discussion?
First it's a Chalupa, now a Travel call.
Obviously most of you are past the "LeBron going to Brooklyn" conspiracy.
Did he walk, who cares? Did they win? NO.
akron, OH
Posted 12:06 PM, 01/07/2009
I'm a hs basketball official its a tough call by NBA standards because its not called with any consistence.D.Wade's drives when he basically runs to the basket I think is the worst case for younger kids.By our rules they both should be violations.
Ravenna, OH
Posted 12:18 PM, 01/07/2009
I can see another 23 cent pizza promotion coming.
da hood (west akron), oh
Posted 12:55 PM, 01/07/2009
In this economy, who really cares if he traveled or not? People are losing their homes, jobs, sanity, etc..etc... Why are we wasting brain cycles worried about a multi-millionaire who plays a "game" with other multi-millionaires ??? Check your logic people... the tail is wagging the dog !!
Akron, OH
Posted 01:29 PM, 01/07/2009
Y-RU-NVS, you're right.
Crab dribble. Cootie dribble. What does it matter compared to the bureaucrats trying to increase the gas tax or another corporate bailout on our dime.
Posted 02:49 PM, 01/07/2009
Well, technically Gilbert & Co. have an arena and a business office/practice facility on the taxpayers' "dime," so might as well discuss LeBron's crab travel.
Posted 04:18 PM, 01/07/2009
come on Lebron--big boys don't cry foul at every little thing that happens to them--it is time for you to grow up and play like a pro and quit acting like a 3 year old. I am so sick of listening to people call you "The King" and "The Chosen One"--you do not fit either description. The Chosen One has not come yet and we live in a democracy--not a kingdom.
Wooster, OH
Posted 07:59 PM, 01/07/2009
I recall refs changing the way travels are called back when Jordan was bringing so much attention to the game. Alas, LeBron gets the opposite sort of treatment--I've seen an increase in the number of bad calls against the Cavs lately, many of which have been fouls called against James--and replays showed there was no contact. But the Cavs are a TEAM now, and this will get them past their 'opponents' in the black and white.
akron, oh
Posted 08:08 PM, 01/07/2009
I agree with Sick n tired!! The only way he's going to walk on water is if it's frozen!! I don't care much for any NBA teams--they are a bunch of over-paid cry babies--got to play back to back games,had to travel over night on a jet--half of them didn't finish high school let alone college-- Who can afford to go see a game--but they sure can keep asking for more $$ from the owners--Give me a good ole high school or college game or let me watch the brave souls playing either football or baseball any time.
