Bavetta

I was contemplating writing about Dick Bavetta after the game last night. Until I watched today's PTI, I had decided against it. However, Tony and Mike brought it to my attention that Bavetta is tied to the fixing of the game between the Lakers and Kings and allegations of helping home teams win playoff games. Or ... something like that.

Maybe this is because I know who Dick Bavetta is and couldn't match names to faces of many different NBA officials, but I tend to notice Bavetta more than I think I should during games. This thought jumped into my mind last night when I saw Bavetta call traveling on Paul Pierce very early in the game when it appeared Pierce was going to travel. While it appeared he was going to travel, he started his dribble before he actually traveled. But, Bavetta didn't see that ... he was already doing an overly dramatic (and energetic) traveling call and heading the other way before the play unraveled.

Did that turnover have a major impact on the game? Maybe. Perhaps, if the Celtics score on that possession, they wouldn't have been steamrolled in the first quarter and wouldn't have had to claw back from a huge (19 points) deficit. Or, maybe they would have turned the ball over later in the possession and things would have gone similarly. I don't think that call did a whole lot of damage and I'm not trying to say Bavetta was fixing the game.

But, why didn't Bavetta see what happened to Pierce? I think Bavetta anticipates calls. Traveling is rarely called in the NBA. In a chat with Roy today, he joked "I didn't know traveling was still illegal in the NBA." So, when I see it called, I usually take an extra look to make sure it is traveling. Frequently, the player called for traveling doesn't travel ... he just doesn't move in the "normal" or expected fashion. The official sees the odd movement and assumes a travel occurs. And, all too often, Dick Bavetta is making the call and then sprinting the other way.

Why is Bavetta so lively and animated? Is he trying to make sure we know he's still fit, even at 68 years old? Is he trying to draw attention to himself and become a celebrity - why did he race Barkley? And, why is Bavetta anticipating calls? Are his reactions not up to par? I don't really care what the reason is that Bavetta is messing up calls. I'd prefer that he not do it ... and if that's not possible, then he shouldn't be given the opportunity to do it.

Moving on to the subject of traveling:

KG was called for another travel in game 5. Granted, he traveled. But, it wasn't that bad ... he just let his pivot foot slide a little bit.

Derek Fisher traveled with just over 90 seconds left in the game when he received a pass after an offensive rebound by the Lakers. For those of you who don't remember the play, he caught the ball with a foot in the air. The airborne foot came down after he caught the ball. Then, he moved the other foot closer to his body. So ... he moved both of his feet after catching the ball. That's a no-no!

Why call traveling on Pierce and KG but not on Fisher? Hopefully, it isn't related to the colors. But, whatever the reason, if you're going to call traveling, call traveling. If you aren't, don't. You can't pick and choose ... and you can't, honestly, have missed Fisher traveling! Right?