Published 18:32 IST, October 22nd 2019
NBA: Referees question travelling call on Rockets' star James Harden
On Monday, October 21, the National Basketball Referees Association (NBRA) said that a travelling call made on Houston Rockets' James Harden was incorrect.
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On Monday, the National Basketball Referees Association (NBRA) accepted that a travelling call made against James Harden of Houston Rockets was not accurate. The call was made during the Houston Rockets and Miami Heats pre-season game on Saturday, October 19. Let us take a look at what the officials and ESPN's Mark Jones had to say about the call.
NBA news: NRBA admit to making a wrong travelling call
@OfficialNBARefs...help me out on this. Looks like Harden gathers..then takes his 2 steps..didn’t look like a travel to me. Keep up the great work and see y’all Wednesday night.. Thanks pic.twitter.com/OG1bH4IJGi
— MarkJonesESPN (@MarkJonesESPN) October 21, 2019
ESPN's Mark Jones first tweeted about the call, tagging NRBA and asking them to help him out. He says that Harden gathered and then took his two steps and did not travel. He also thanks the NRBA and asks them to keep up the good work. The NRBA respond to Mark's tweet, explaining why the call was wrong. Harden gathered with his right foot on the floor and then proceded to take steps with his left foot and then right foot. The tweet said that Mark was right, and a travelling call should not have been made. They also explained as to why the call was missed. According to the NRBA, the trail official makes the call from behind the game and does not have a clear look at when the gather occurs. Harden had also objected to the call immediately after it was made.
He gathers with his right foot on the floor, then takes a step with his left and then right, for two steps after the gather. You're right Mark, traveling should not have been called. Appreciate hearing from one of the most informed media members! See you in the regular season. 1/ https://t.co/dTGVLajOb2
— NBA Referees (@OfficialNBARefs) October 21, 2019
The trail official makes this call from behind the play, and he doesn’t have an open look at when the gather occurs. You can see from the lead official's look, which is the angle of the replay, where the gather happens. 2/
— NBA Referees (@OfficialNBARefs) October 21, 2019
Despite the error, the NBA's Most Valuable Player had a great game. The guard scored 44 points in his 34 minutes of game time. He also posted seven assists, five steals and five rebounds during that duration. Houston Rockets prevailed Miami Heat with a 144-133 victory. Rockets will face the Milwaukee Bucks for their first NBA 2019-20 season game on Friday, October 25 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.
16:15 IST, October 22nd 2019