NEW ORLEANS � NBA officials have been instructed to strictly enforce traveling rules this season. The league also this summer defined and explained restrictions of "the gather," loophole exploited by James Harden and others who attempt step-back jumpers.
NBA head of referee development and training Monty McCutchen said in October that data from last season showed that officials were missing an average of two traveling calls per game.
The crackdown resulted in increased traveling calls during the preseason. And in Wednesday's season-opening win over Washington, the Mavericks were called for traveling five times.
During a 30-second span late in the first quarter, forward Kristaps Porzingis was twice called for walking.
"We work on footwork every day, in anticipation of the whistle blowing more," Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said Thursday. "We've just got to continue to do it."
The Mavericks were whistled for 19 turnovers in all. The other traveling calls were on Luka Doncic and Seth Curry in the second quarter and Maxi Kleber in the fourth period.
"There's such a great emphasis on looking for travels that the whistle occasionally blows a little prematurely," Carlisle said. "But it's just a good reminder that this is something that's going to change.
"Look, getting called for four of five of them is A LOT. It takes you from 14 turnovers to 19. That's just too many."
