VIDEO: NBA Refs Miss Egregious Travel on Clint Capela From Almost Half-Court
By Chris Russo
NBA referees have probably missed travel calls on every other possession for the last 10 years, at least. In fact, it's gotten so bad that most players are gifted three steps, especially in the open floor, despite the rulebook specifically citing only two are allowed.
A walk by Clint Capela against the Wizards Wednesday is one of the less excusable ones.
one of if not the greatest missed travel no-call of all-time pic.twitter.com/9LIOYSaHCL
— Joel Wobiid (@WorldWideWob) October 31, 2019
Capela took at least four steps, if not five, without a dribble from just inside half-court on a fast break dunk.
Bradley Beal doesn't even try to block it at the end, instead just glaring at one of the officials. Any middle school coach will tell you he still needs to contest the dunk, but Beal also shouldn't have to defend him after that atrocious footwork anyway. Scott Brooks went nuts on the sideline, but of course he didn't get the call.
Clint Capela just committed the most egregious non-call travel in #NBA history. #Rockets
— Billy Heyen (@BillyHeyen) October 31, 2019
What makes this even worse is that the Rockets won by just one, 159-158.
Plus, this comes after the NBA tried to further enforce traveling violations before the season started.
This video (narrated by VP, Head of Referee Development & Training Monty McCutchen) provides an overview of rules regarding Traveling for Dribbling Players, as well as specifically addresses the newly-defined concept of the “gather”. pic.twitter.com/ukIwRbmbvs
— NBA Official (@NBAOfficial) September 30, 2019
Despite their efforts, NBA officiating continues to disappoint even at a basic level.