Friday, March 13th, 2009 at 10:00 am  |  79 responses

LeBron Wants His Beloved ‘Crab Dribble’ Back

by Marcel Mutoni

And the NBA might just grant their young King his wish.

It was recently revealed that the League is hard at work on revising exactly what a travel is, and might want the NCAA and FIBA to adopt similar guidelines.

Hilariously, LeBron may even get his own special chapter in the new rulebook. From the Plain Dealer:

In response to increased scrutiny in recent years, the NBA is examining rewriting its traveling rules as soon as next season. It may include allowing for two steps, not one as currently written, and possibly even a provision for LeBron James’ famous, or infamous, depending on your perspective, crab-dribble move.

[...]

The most focus has been on James’ jump-stop move, which he’s been perfecting since high school. Sometimes he travels and gets away with it, sometimes he executes it properly and still gets called for traveling.

“That would be good, I could get my move back,” James said of the potential rule changes. “They stole my move. I’ve gotten used to knowing that you have to land on two feet.”

Traveling is a hot-button topic for NBA fans, especially when watching players like James and Miami’s Dwyane Wade. Because of his speed and the length of his stride, James can often cover large distances and change possession without dribbling.

“Sometimes it is called right and sometimes it isn’t, but they’ll figure it out,” James said.

Brilliant.

This will do wonders for the widely-held perception that the NBA will do anything to protect and coddle its biggest stars.

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  • Teddy-the-Bear

    FOR THE INTEGRITY OF THE GAME, STOP THE CRAB DRIBBLE.
    OR AT LEAST DON’T MAKE IT OFFICIALLY LEGAL.

  • Teddy-the-Bear

    Also, officials are horrible at calling charges/blocks, its way tot ambiguous.
    And continuation shooting fouls? The superstars get hit like 10 seconds before they put up the shot and they will call continuation. But when an average player goes up and has a legitimate continuation call, the ref calls says its on the floor.

  • Dre

    It has always been legal to take 2 steps after you last dribble or in stride when receiving a pass.

  • jay

    yea sure….& while we’re at it, we should hand it to him on a silver platter too. you know…cause he’s a king and all.

  • http://www.basketballjerseyworld.com NBA-JERSEY-KING

    bring it back! for the good of the game… otherwise you might as well get rid of dribbling and make it netball

  • http://www.another48minutes.blogspot.com Gerard Himself

    there was a time that when an NBA player was that good, rules were changed to take some of his greatness away. (no dunking rule in college), goaltending was inserted, etc.

  • http://www.another48minutes.blogspot.com Gerard Himself

    but if a player is really good nowadays, they do everything to make his life easier!

  • ab_40

    get the fiba rules for traveling, get teh no charge zone in europe. make 1 three point line for everywhere europe, nba and ncaa men. Destroy the defensive three secconds rule. Let players get the ball of the rim so no more offensive and defensive interfierance. And make the charge a charge again… so not standing still waiting for a player to hit you and jump backwards… the charges are at an all time high. I always defended the game for having not as many actors as in football but the last few seasons have ruined it for me. once or twice okay but like mr varejo from cleveland that’s annoying.

    and the no dunking rule in college was made by players who were less athletic and had rich dadies who found it unfair that the black players and a few whites could dunk. that was the biggest trafesty in the game of basketball.

  • OneStep

    It’s been a long time since the NBA was keen on fundamentals. It’s an incredibly simple game with very few fundamental rules made complicated by those pesky humans. You get two steps that’s it. How many times have we seen guys catch the ball on the run at the three-point line take three or more steps and finish with the all-important dunk? The NBA has a well established reputation for style over substance. The crazy thing is, it would still be a spectacular product if players were forced to abide by the laws of the game. Would DWade and Lebron be less great if they had their third step removed? No, of course not. Just don’t get me started on KG’s ridiculous post moves. Has he never heard of establishing a pivot foot? It drives me mad how many times he gets away with it. Playing D in the post is all about focusing on what the guys pivot foot is. If he’s allowed to ignore that how can you play effectively against a 7 feet tall freak like KG? As I’ve said already, the league will still be great even with the laws of the game being enforced. Get it sorted.

  • vonkers

    the “crab dribble” isn’t even what it’s called…LeBroom made that up! WHat a tool. I hate him so much. Good player, but when they change the rules to make you better, that’s rediculous. I have no respect for him or his game.

  • ab_40

    and he can still do the “cra(p)b dribble” without traveling otherwise it’s cheating cuz you can push your body into the other guy and then go over… that’s good ol on the street court cheating and saying you didn’t travle after you dunked in some poor guys face. I’m speeking out of expierience haha

  • jose

    Honestly i thought everyone went with the 2 steps rule. why give the nba guyz one.(tho it aint called that much)

  • levijacobson

    lebrons awesome but EXCUSES
    i call mine the spider dribble

  • Pedestrian Nightmare

    why the f would fiba have to change their “strickt” rules of travelling? because the refs whistle every time players don’t respect them? (the rules, not the refs:)

  • RedRum

    yeap, change that rule and see how many times NBA stars get called for travelling in FIBA competitions…

  • Pedestrian Nightmare

    …which follow the rules as should the NBA

  • BostonBaller

    Wow!! I’ve played ball on many levels and TWO (2) steps were a layup, you catch the ball on the go and you get 2 steps. Where are we getting ONE (1) step from? Seriously I’m just asking.

  • BostonBaller

    Section XIV-Traveling
    a. A player who receives the ball while standing still may pivot, using either foot as the pivot foot.
    b. A player who receives the ball while he is progressing or upon completion of a dribble, may use a two-count rhythm in coming to a stop, passing or shooting the ball.
    The first count occurs:
    (1) As he receives the ball, if either foot is touching the floor at the time he receives it.
    (2) As the foot touches the floor, or as both feet touch the floor simultane- ously after he receives the ball, if both feet are off the floor when he receives it.
    The second occurs:
    (1) After the count of one when either foot touches the floor, or both feet touch the floor simultaneously.
    c. A player who comes to a stop on the count of one may pivot, using either foot as the pivot foot.
    d. A player who comes to a stop on the count of two, with one foot in advance of the other, may pivot using only the rear foot as the pivot foot.
    e. A player who comes to a stop on the count of two, with neither foot in advance of the other, may use either foot as the pivot foot.
    f. In starting a dribble after (1) receiving the ball while standing still, or (2) coming to a legal stop, the ball must be out of the player’s hand before the pivot foot is raised off the floor.
    g. If a player, with the ball in his possession, raises his pivot foot off the floor, he must pass or shoot before his pivot foot returns to the floor. If he drops the ball while in the air, he may not be the first to touch the ball.
    h. A player who falls to the floor while holding the ball, or while coming to a stop, may not gain an advantage by sliding.
    i. A player who attempts a field goal may not be the first to touch the ball if it fails to touch the backboard, basket ring or another player.
    PENALTY: Loss of ball. The ball is awarded to the opposing team at the sideline, nearest spot of the violation but no nearer the baseline than the foul line extended.

  • BostonBaller

    I didn’t read it I just copied and pasted. lol

  • chintao

    Gold Bond Medicated Ointment. I was always told 1 and 1/2 steps. Regardless, codifying this kind of thing should make it impossible for the U.S. to win at any properly officiated international event.

  • Jackie Moon

    Lebron can “change possession” without dribbling? That would be magical to go from offense to defense without dribbling. Or, most would just call that a “turnover”. I think they meant “change direction without dribbling”.

  • http://nextgg.com DMC14

    FIBA 1.5 steps after dribble.

    All through Nineties i swear NBA was 2 or 2.5 steps after dribble so that they could do the double leg jump for dunks etc. and i’m sure the US always used to get called for travelling in international games.

    But the nba refs let certain players travel while others cant.

  • http://nextgg.com DMC14

    oh yeah and when players dribble the ball with there hands going underneath as in craddleing the ball it is either a double dribble or travel.

  • CHE

    I agree iversons crossover should be reinstated. He was punished for having long arms. He never carried or palmed the ball. They banned his crossover. I think Jordan told the league if you don’t ban that crossover I will retire………again. So they had to get rid of it..lol

  • http://www.liveddb.com DDB

    Just keep ruining the game. Why stop now? Why have any rules?

  • UNNAMED

    no LeBroom fans on this thread…they know he’s a fake too…

  • http://aol J

    Tons of players take travel on the way to the bucket its just that EVERYBODYS eyes are on LeBron and D-wade and when they mess up everybody flips so shut up haters

  • UNNAMED

    No, LeBroom is just being a little girl about it…”whaaaaa, they took away MY move (which he didn’t even invent), everybody hates me eventhough I get ever single call” Seriously, if he misses a shot, they call a foul, because of course if he misses he MUST have been fouled, it’s not like he’s not a very good shooter or anything…LeBroom is a fake, D-Wade and Kobe are the real deal son.

  • nerd man 123456789

    GOOD

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