Webber on LaMelo's Trip of Bam

Chris Webber weighed in on LaMelo Ball's tripping of Bam Adebayo, the play that had the NBA talking. Webber's framing was interesting. He doesn't think the play was malicious. He thinks every player has grabbed a guy's leg after a foul trying to hold position. He just couldn't believe the referees missed it.

That was where Webber zeroed in. He said something about the current era of officiating bothers him. Calling him for a skip, a gather-plus-two-extra-steps travel on another play, it feels like refs are worried about being judged for a bad call more than they're worried about the call itself. Not wanting to take responsibility is how Webber described it. The rules are what make the game. If the refs don't enforce them, what are teams supposed to do?

On the specific play, Webber said he expected a technical foul at minimum. Nothing came. LaMelo stayed in. He hit the game-winner. Bam, the best player on the Heat, was out on the ground. That's a hard one to absorb if you're Miami.

Rich pushed harder. He used the word reckless, which was the word NBA Executive Vice President Joe Dumars used when he called the play unnecessary and reckless with significant injury risk. Rich took it a step further. He said reckless might also describe LaMelo's driving around town. The talent is immense. The question Rich kept asking was whether LaMelo should be playing at all.

Webber nodded at the concern. He said if he's any other team, he's making the argument that if this were us, this would have been a suspension. He praised Erik Spoelstra as one of the classiest coaches in the league, but noted Spoelstra didn't pour gasoline on the fire the way he probably could have, which set the tone for how the league responded.

Webber flipped the question back on Rich. As a football guy complaining about visual evidence, Webber brought up two old wounds. The Calvin Johnson catch that wasn't a catch. The Saints defensive back non-call in the NFC title game four years ago. Every sport has its ghost calls. Rich laughed and conceded the point.

Charlotte won the game. They went on the road, hit big shots, and beat a good team. Webber said he's looking forward to watching this young exciting group grow. Reckless or not, the win counted.