During tonight's Game 4 of the NBA Finals there was a terrible call when L. James performed a ludicrous flop that resulted in a foul on Haywood and free throws for James at the end of a quarter. In response to this Van Gundy threw out the idea that an NBA official should review tapes for flops and levy fines on the player that commits the flops. I love this idea and I think the NBA really should do this. I hate watching talented world class players like L. James manipulate the rules in order to get free throws instead of using their considerable skills and trying to score honorably like a man. Think how much more enjoyable the NBA game would be if flopping was penalized after games like Van Gundy proposes. And the best thing about his idea is that you are not putting it on the already overwhelmed game referees to make the call on who is flopping and who is not -- it can all be reviewed in detail on tape. I understand there are a few Rockets players that would have their paychecks reduced considerably under such a rule, but the overall games would be so much more entertaining.
Agree with JVG. They have to fix this sooner or later. Too many people are irritated with flopping for it to continue much longer. JVG's proposal is not bad, because it's impossible for officials to get it right all the time during the course of the game. If this happens we need to trade Martin immediately. PS: I'm giving Mark Jackson a year and a half before he's fired. Some of his philosophies are just wacky.
Completely agree with JVG. It's so idiotic to watch these flops. This would mean that we'd never see Luis Scola again, but dammit, it's not like we're going anywhere with him...
LeBron should have been suspended for that one. I still like LeBron. But damn. Nobody and I mean not even a damn Houston Rocket should get away if they flopped like that.
I think it is very appropriate. In soccer refs can hand out yellow cards for flopping, and of course, your second yellow card in a game means automatic ejection and suspension for at least the next game. I've always felt a flop should warrant a technical foul at least. If they can dish out techs for complaining, they should be able to dish out techs for flopping. You concede a point to the other team, you pay a fine, and you dare not do it again or you get thrown out. Should solve the problem.
Agreed, a T + a fine for reviewed flops. Some players like Derek Fisher have enough flops every game that they'll be suspended every month if they keep it up.
Maybe just a turnover would suffice. Or the refs need to play through the flops. Most of them are just obvious! And this isn't the first time JVG has mentioned this, it's been all throughout the playoffs
I think its a little difficult for refs to figure out what is a flop during a live game. They do not have the benefit of instant replay or slow motion.
I agree it's tough for them live to recognize some flops but that flop by Lebron was just a pathetic call. Refs are right up on the play. If the refs stopped calling all these ticky tack fouls they would save themselves the trouble of trying to determine if a player flopped or not.
that would actually require work! They should do it like they do it in futbol. First time is a yellow card, next time you do it..suspension. Manu will retire. It's something that should be addressed.
Here's what I found.. http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3416579 But yea I dont remember there ever being an instance where they actually fined someone
Easier said than done. I hate flopping, but can how do you actually tell if a guy flopped? Sure sometimes some flops are extremely obvious, but other times there is often a form of contact or another that led to the flop, as weak as the contact may be. In football, the flops they call are when players fall down without any contact. For example, the Chris Bosh flop on Boozer, Bosh was rubbing his nose after so Boozer might actually have tipped his nose a little. We can't dedicate whether there was enough contact to cause a fall or not, because afterall everyone is different. Some guys are tough, some guys are Bosh.
