Theoretically, a player could fumble/juggle the ball from one end of the floor to the other, and no violation would have occurred. I often see plays where one team has a 3-on-1 fast break. The point guard throws a bounce pass to his teammate on the wing, who is breaking for the hoop. The player bobbles the pass and takes several steps before going up to lay it in. The fans go bananas, screaming for what they believe is an obvious travel. Nine times out of ten they are wrong, because the player who bobbled the pass never established a pivot foot. Thus, no travel.

Paul was in a jump ball with one of Portland's big bigs by the Portland hoop.  All Clipper defenders were toward the rim.  Portland's big tapped ball toward center court where the three closest lined-up players were TrailBlazers.  Chris Paul ignored the tip, darted out toward center court and caught to ball on a bounce off the floor.  Just a brilliant, thinking play...which was disallowed, apparently because Paul was not allowed to touch the ball until a player not involved in the jump touched it.  (I may have the facts and rule slightly off.  But it showed high hoop IQ for sure.)


I know many here are not in love with pro hoop.  But check out Blake Griffin of the Clippers.  Dude has gone quantum and a serious case can be made that he's the best player in the league...I think his ppg over the last four months is something like 21.6, 22.4, 26.1 and 33.  He didn't even take jump shots until about a month ago.  Now, he's money out to near 20 feet.  If he gets it in the post or in that one-dribble out spot about 14 foot from the hoop, it's a bucket or a foul almost for sure.  I used to think he was a fairly good player but not particularly special.  He's special, and not because of all the dunking.