Such that it is, the end of the weekend mail

As it turns out, there wasn’t much afternoon mail to deai with.

So here’s what I’ve got without looking this evening because it’s another much-needed quiet night with good company.

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Q: Doug

Made the trip down the 400 to see the HOTH play a terrible and

uninteresting Charlotte team last night and had a couple questions: Does Rudy Gay always whine so much about foul calls? I hadn't noticed it while watching games on TV, but he took some reach in fouls in the second half, right around when Charlotte made their run and always looked completely flabbergasted that he had been called. Now there were some questionable calls, but it is difficult for a "Superstar" player to dominate the end of the game if he is always playing with four fouls.

Does Michael Pietrus work hard and care or are his dance antics on the bench simply "Michael being Michael"?

Does Ben Gordon ever see a shot that Ben Gordon doesn't like? And please tell me he refers to himself in the third person because if anyone does I would bet it is him.

Thanks again for your work

Andrew, Huntsville

A: There’s way too much whining in the NBA, by Gay and about 400 other players, to suit me. Sure, there are bad calls, just like there are bad plays, suck it up and get on with the job. Incessant complaining is counter-productive.

Pietrus is a cool dude, he knows what his job is – remember he was brought in simply as an emergency veteran when both Anderson and Fields were hurt and was never, ever part of any long-time plan. He’s having fun with it and good on him.

I mentioned this the other night in the IGBT: I can’t believe none of Ben Gordon’s teammates have punched him in the middle of a game because he never, ever passes the basketball.

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Q: Hey Doug,

Right now, I have the over/under on number of games that Linas Kleiza will actually play in a Raptors uniform set at 0.5 games.

Am I right, or is there anything about his health/playing ability that you know that would change that? Will the team get him some minutes so that they can try to increase his trade value for this summer?

Thanks as always for the daily fare.

Jay

A: I’d say over, but not by much and only because the people ahead of him could come down with mystery “conditions” as the season winds down.

But it’s never going to be a case of “showcasing” a guy in the final dozen or so games of the year, players of Kleiza’s experience are known already by other GMs.

The rotation here now is too deep most nights, sometimes 10 players is too many, and Kleiza’s outside the group right now. Happens on every team.

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Q: Hi Doug,

I have a few questions for you this week:

While reading an SI article on Michael Jordan recently, a subscriber wrote in, "Jordan was one of the greatest players of all time and also one of the greatest at pushing off defenders."

Can you clarify what the NBA rule is for an offensive player pushing off a defender?

Can a foul be called when a defensive player makes contact with an offensive player while he/she is in the process of passing the ball?

When a player inbounds the ball from the baseline by rolling it in, does the clock start to run the moment the ball is rolled in or when a teammate picks the ball up? Can a defender pick up the ball when it's inbounded by rolling it in?

Thanks Doug and have a great day!

Joe D

A: They technically can’t push off; but about 90 per cent try to.

And, yes, fouls can be committed on passes, that also happens with regularity.

And, the clock does not start until someone inbounds touches the ball on an inbounds play, and offensive or defensive player, it doesn’t matter.

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Q: Hi Doug. Paul here. Please tell me that we've finally hit the stage in this franchise's existence that we can get rid of the name "raptors" and come up with something respectable? I would love to see the "Toronto Smoke"

Paul

A: Haven’t hit it, won’t ever hit it, put it out of your mind.

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Q: Hi Doug.

Turned on Raps TV (or whatever it is now) while having a snack and watched 10 minutes of last night's game (vs. Charlotte). One thing has struck me more than usual this season: traveling.

I know it's the NBA, I know every player catches the ball, takes two steps and then picks a pivot foot. I know you have to egregiously cup the ball to get a carry called. Maybe I'm just noticing it more now, though, but has traveling somehow gotten worse over the last season or two? I mean guys are making spin moves into two-step layups and no calls (I think it was Kemba Walker who I saw do one, but Rudy Gay has a nice 3.5 step spin layup as well). Is it a lack of fundamentals, or is it a

function of "well, if I do this and it doesn't get called it turns into

a go-to move, so why not?"

Above .500 record still alive for one more day!!!

David T, Ottawa

A: I don’t think it’s become worse at all, actually. And, to tell you the truth, traveling is one of the most misunderstood calls in the game.

Here’s the rulebook definition:

“To start a dribble after establishing a pivot foot, the ball must be released from the player’s hand before his pivot foot leaves the floor or he has committed a traveling violation. A player who receives the ball while moving is allowed a two count rhythm but must release the ball prior to the third step touching the floor. When ending his dribble a player may use a two count rhythm in coming to a stop, passing or shooting. A player who fall s to the floor while holding the ball or while coming to a stop may not gain an advantage by rolling on the floor. A player who attempts a shot may not be the first to touch the ball if it fails to touch the backboard, rim or another player. If a player comes to a stop on the count of one when both feet are on the floor or touch the floor simultaneously, he may pivot using either foot as his pivot. If he alights with both feet he must release the ball before either foot touches the floor. If a player has one foot on the floor or lands with one foot first to the floor, he may only pivot with that foot. Once that foot is lifted from the floor to shoot or pass it may not return until the ball is released. If a player jumps off one foot on the count of one he may land with both feet simultaneously for count two. In this situation, the player may not pivot with either foot and if one or both feet leave the floor the ball must be released before either return to the floor. When a player gathers the ball he may not step consecutively with the same foot, as in a hopping motion.

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Alan C.]

Doug, thanks for the definition of travelling, which is pretty much the same as I remember playing under. However, I have to agree with Dave -- this rule is egregiously transgressed in every game I watch. Lowry, for example, when coming toward the ball, will receive the pass with both feet on the floor, or a one-two, and then take two steps while setting up, which is against this rule. Three steps, not two, on layup moves, is common. I think, for layups in particular, dazzling moves trump the rules every time (see also palming).