USA - James gets crabby over travel

WASHINGTON (NBA) - Team USA's LeBron James is taking some good-natured ribbing from the Washington Wizards for claiming a "crab dribble" is not travelling.

James was called for a travel while driving to the basket for a potential game-tying basket against the woeful Wizards on Sunday.

Washington won the game 80-77.

When asked about the call by the referee, James said: "They need to look at it and they need to understand that's not a travel."

James was asked to explain the play.

"I watched it again, and I took a 'crab dribble,' which is a hesitation dribble, and then two steps.

"I watched it 10 times after the game and it was clearly a good play, so you live with it."

Wizards forward Antawn Jamison, who played with James for Team USA at the 2006 FIBA World Championship in Japan, said: "I know what a travelling is. ... I think we all know what travelling is.

"They have the tape to prove the history of that signature move that he has, but it was a travel, hands down."

Washington's other all-star forward, Caron Butler, said with a grin: "Yeah, a crab dribble is when you travel.

"That's my boy and that's the hottest thing on the market now, the crab dribble travel. . . . I couldn't do it in AAU, couldn't do it in college and obviously I can't do it now."

Cleveland are 27-6, good enough for second place in the Eastern Conference.

Washington, a play-off team last year who are playing without the injured Gilbert Arenas and Brendan Haywood, are 7-25.

In NBA action on Monday, the Milwaukee Bucks played without injured Australia center Andrew Bogut but still beat the Toronto Raptors 107-97.

Team USA sharpshooter Michael Redd poured in 35 points for the Bucks.

Yi Jianlian of China had 22 points and 13 rebounds and Vince Carter scored 29 as the New Jersey Nets defeated the Sacramento Kings 98-90.

Paul Millsap continued his rise to stardom in Utah with 19 points for the Jazz in their 119-114 triumph over Golden State.

Denver beat Indiana 135-115 and San Antonio edged Miami 91-84 in the other games.

FIBA