NBA finally gets something right

**R13** · May 29th, 2008, 03:48 PM

The NBA announced to its teams this week at its annual pre-draft camp that fines will be imposed on players starting next season for clear cases of "flopping," ESPN.com has learned.

The league office has yet to determine exact fine amounts for offending flops and how fines might escalate for repeat offenders, but in-game arena observers and video reviewers will be instructed to report instances of theatrical flopping for potential punishment as part of postgame reports on officiating and other matters.

The league's pledge to crack down on flopping was conveyed to team representatives at Tuesday's competition committee meeting in Orlando.

NBA executive vice president of basketball operations Stu Jackson confirmed the new policy Wednesday night saying: "What was clearly expressed to the committee is that we would begin imposing fines next season for the most egregious type of flops. When players are taking a dive, for lack of a better term."

The Cavs' Anderson Varejao, left, may be fined next season if his actions are found to be a clear case of flopping.
Because a precise penalty system has not yet been structured, it is not yet known whether serial floppers will be subject to possible suspensions after a certain number of fines for flopping, as seen with the league's protocol on technical fouls. Players who accrue 16 technicals during the regular season are hit with a one-game suspension when they get to No. 16 -- the limit is seven technicals during the playoffs -- and receive one-game suspensions for every other technical thereafter (No. 18, 20, etc.).

Detroit's Rasheed Wallace, a player who has 15 technicals this season and has been suspended in the past for being over the limit for technicals, gave his opinion of floppers to ESPN after the Pistons' 106-102 loss to the Boston Celtics in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals on Wednesday.

"All that bull[expletive]-ass calls they had out there. With Mike [Callahan] and Kenny [Mauer] -- you've all seen that [expletive]," Wallace said. "You saw them calls. The cats are flopping all over the floor and they're calling that [expletive]. That [expletive] ain't basketball out there. It's all [expletive] entertainment. You all should know that [expletive]. It's all [expletive] entertainment."

Fines will be imposed for clear cases of flopping - NBA - ESPN@@AMEPARAM@@http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=3416687@@AMEPARAM@@3416687

**OAR** · May 29th, 2008, 04:53 PM

Duke players in the NBA will be broke by next year in this case [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif[/img]

**imported_VHSLhelper** · May 29th, 2008, 07:02 PM

serial floppers are what I wear at the breakfast table.

**MikeJones** · May 29th, 2008, 07:38 PM

Jesus Dont blame the player. Its the refs job to pick it up. I hate floppers. How about redundant foul line huddles?

**R13** · May 29th, 2008, 07:51 PM

NEW YORK -- Detroit's Rasheed Wallace was fined $25,000 Thursday by the NBA for using profanity and criticizing the officiating after a playoff game the night before.

After the Pistons' 106-102 loss to the Boston Celtics in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals, Wallace went on an expletive-laced rant targeting officials Mike Callahan and Kenny Mauer.

"The cats are flopping all over the floor and they're calling that," Wallace said. "That ain't basketball out there. It's all entertainment. You all should know that."

The Celtics lead the best-of-seven series 3-2.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playof...ory?id=3417868

**89bluedevil** · May 29th, 2008, 08:30 PM

I think it's a little overboard to fine a player for trying to draw an offensive foul. It has gotten way out of hand, as most players will not even try to make a play on the ball and block a shot but try to get a charge called. Perhaps, they should call a technical on the flopper?

**1inStripes** · May 29th, 2008, 09:18 PM

This is stupid. The NBA did not get it right. If you are going to flop the refs just need to let it go, because generally the flopper ends up letting his player get an easy 2.

**imported_VHSLhelper** · May 30th, 2008, 12:21 AM

I thought this was going to say they were going to re-play the last second of the Lakers-Spurs game before the tip of game 5.

**MikMo** · May 30th, 2008, 07:40 AM

This would have killed Vlade Divac's career.

**UTVols2** · May 30th, 2008, 12:49 PM

This is a stupid rule. What are they going to do hire someone to be the official flop police? I will take that job, pay me $100,000 a year and I will be the offical flopper of the NBA. I don't know if I have ever heard a more ridiculous proposal. This won't last.