Remember in elementary school when you learned that you have to dribble a basketball to run with it? Well the NBA has changed all that. This season they are allowing players to take two full steps with the basketball before coming to a stop. It’s believed that this is the first time any major basketball league in the world has done this. Why? Because THAT’S NOT BASKETBALL!!! Even in Netball a player can only take one step with the ball.
Of course, this is just codifying what NBA refs have let great players like Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan do for years. These players were allowed to take two or more steps with the basketball while most other players were forced to stick to the rules. At least now all the players will play by the same traveling rules…until they allow LeBron to take four steps. Handball, anyone?
on Oct 16th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
Kidding right? So we have the “best” players in the world, and paying them millions of dollars, and we are going to make the game easier for them? Hmmm losing interest.
on Oct 16th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
So I guess what this REALLY means is that we’re gonna see three or four steps. To be honest, I think this rule is gonna benefit post players a lot more. Most of those players shuffle there feet around the basket anyway, so now I guess there just making it legal. Geesh!! Why don’t they just get rid of dribbling all together…
on Oct 16th, 2009 at 5:27 pm
So instead of making refs be more consistant we just make things easier for them by changing a major rule in the game. The nba is almost becoming a joke at this point, I’m glad I can watch yankees vs angels instead tonight.
on Oct 16th, 2009 at 8:00 pm
Pathetic, simply pathetic.
on Oct 16th, 2009 at 9:12 pm
This has Lebron written all over this (Wade and Kobe too to a lesser extent) The league wants the stars to have more exciting plays without “traveling”
on Oct 17th, 2009 at 7:28 am
That is why I am a casual basketball fan. I always got incensed at the “Jordan Rules” to the point were it actually took all the enjoyment from watching the game. I believe allowing players to take 2 full steps will create harder fouls and players will have more momentum driving to the net.
Similarly…A word of caution to the NFL. Be very careful with the “Brady” Rule. Right now…any team that even sniffs Tom Brady’s knee is getting penalized while other QB’s knees are getting hit with no call.
Just my $.0025 worth (today’s current value of 2 cents)
on Oct 17th, 2009 at 8:54 am
The NBA just added the Video Rule Book to their website, showing videos of illegal and legal moves. Interesting how the travelling section shows no LeBron or DWade examples (when Wade does those spin moves across the lane, finishing on the other side–please, that’s 4 steps, people). In fact, the traveling section focuses on lifting the pivot foot and palming the ball. Steps are conspicuously absent. Now, I fully expect to see LeBron pick up the ball at half court on a break, step-step-step-step-dunk, and… no travel! Play on. Nothing to see here.
http://www.nba.com/videorulebook/
on Oct 18th, 2009 at 7:30 am
Remind me again why I stopped following the pro game umpteen years ago.
on Oct 19th, 2009 at 2:28 pm
the NBA hasn’t been real basketball for a long time. Give me an NCAA game anytime