Celtics-Heat: The Strange No Call on LeBron's Late-Game Travel in Game 4

The Boston Celtics certainly did not help themselves late in a Game 4 that they could have and should have won. Rajon Rondo blew a wide open layup, and on the game winning play, no screen was set for Paul Pierce, who was expecting one, and he was forced to take a much harder shot. But on top of them not helping themselves, the referees didn't do them any favors either.

This was most evident on LeBron James' go-ahead basket in which he clearly traveled. I understand referees swallowing their whistles late in games and for superstars (LeBron gets away with a lot of travels), but this was an obvious travel and an easy call to make. He took, without exaggeration, five steps. Three in his initial move, which in itself is a travel, and then picked up his pivot foot for two more.

The rule is that a player can take two steps. Most get away with three steps, LeBron occasionally gets away with three and a half, but allowing players to take five steps is ridiculous. If taking five steps is suddenly legal, then sign me up for the NBA because it's pretty easy to score when you don't need to dribble. But I don't think they made it legal, nor will they any time soon. So in that case, the refs missed a timely call and if the proper call is made, then this series would be tied 2-2. 

Check out the video of it here