Fight Against Flopping

Let me take you guys back to last spring, Game one of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. With the Miami Heat slowly pulling away from the New York Knicks late in the second quarter, NBA fans everywhere witnessed the flop heard around the world.

The Knicks’ Iman Shumpert was bringing the ball up the floor when the Heat’s LeBron James began to apply loose pressure near midcourt. Knicks big man and defensive showstopper, Tyson Chandler, snuck behind James, setting a blindside screen allowing Shumpert to pass half-court. James backed into Chandler causing LeBron’s head to snap backward. James froze momentarily, and then flailed his arms out like he’d been shot as he hit the deck wincing in pain. Chandler was slapped with a flagrant foul for the play, his fourth of the game, forcing him to sit extensively in the second half.

At first look, it appears Chandler laid a pretty good cheap shot on James. But when you replay the incident closely, it is obvious to tell the exaggeration James put into his reaction of the contact. The screen Chandler set was totally legal and would have been a no-call if it weren’t for James’ dramatic acting job.

The Heat followed by ripping off a 9-0 run to end the half, putting them up by 23 points. The momentum swing of Game one carried throughout the series as the Heat won the series in five.

David Stern and the NBA have been looking into the flopping issue for several years now and are ready to punish the act. In a deal that is likely to be finalized in the coming weeks, floppers will now be fined by the league after the play is reviewed following the contest. There is no word if any suspensions will be handed out or if any in-game punishment will be used, but the rule is set to be implemented for the upcoming season.

I am 100 percent on board with the NBA and their decision to penalize players who flop. I do think however, there needs to be an in-game punishment if the NBA ever wants to solve the issue completely.

Dirty looks and fines will not be enough for the NBA to get rid of its problem. The only way to send a message to the players that flopping is not allowed is to threaten players’ playing time.

The NHL took care of its flopping problem by giving away two-minute minors for anyone caught “diving.” The NBA should follow and give out flagrant fouls to players caught in the act of flopping. If the flopper continues, he should be slapped with a second flagrant foul leading to an automatic ejection from the game.

I mean c’mon guys; this is the hardwood, not Broadway. The last thing the NBA needs is to become a spin-off of soccer. Nothing against our friends across the pond, but their style of play is a little too dainty for our American tastes.

Basketball is a man sport and toughness on the court is just as important as toughness on the gridiron. I feel basketball in general is underrated in this regard. Just ask any big man. They are constantly banging bodies down low and if player is flopping in the paint, someone is bound to get tripped and injure themselves. Flopping adds another unneeded element to the game and ultimately hurts the reputation of the league.

I applaud David Stern and the NBA for saving the integrity of the game and doing so before the season starts.