Stern cracking down on floppers

ELIZABETH, N.J. -- The NBA is about to act in hopes of stopping the floppers.

Spokesman Tim Frank said Thursday the league is finalizing procedures to deal with flopping, the art of falling down when little or no contact was made in an effort to trick referees into calling a foul.

Frank said the competition committee met two weeks ago and discussed plans that would go in place this season. Commissioner David Stern believes too many players are deceiving referees by flopping and has been seeking a way to properly penalize them.

The procedures likely will involve a postgame review of the play by the league office, rather than an official calling an infraction during the game, Frank said.

Players likely would be fined if the league determined they flopped.

NBA finalizing procedures that will penalize players for flopping - ESPN

Interesting the article doesn't mention giving officials more leverage in making a call. It only mentions postgame review by the league office to levy a fine.

Players are good at flopping when the officials don't have a good angle to see the flop. The postgame review with fines might be the better approach. Ginobli may need a pay raise to cover the fines.

It's unfair to penalize floppers if you don't give them the calls when they stand their ground. The defender basically has to be really to be propelled to get the call. If the expected contact doesn't arrive, they are usually falling backwards from the anticipation of it.

So they better change the way they are "defending" or bring the wallet.

That's what I'm saying, if they defend like men, the offensive player will get the call every time. The refs need to reward position for the defender on contact plays where the defender stays on his feet.

I like Ernies idea about the defender having to stand in a defensive stance to get the call.

I really trust the NBA to make these totally subjective calls.

Bill L makes a good point about players knowing when the refs can't see, but it irks me that it is true. Maybe the refs just shouldn't make the call if they don't see the play and let 'em play? (A novel concept for sure.) I kind of feel like that's what happens in FIBA.

I kinda like this idea and I don't see this solution being that big of a deal. Basically, a bunch of obscenley wealthy floppers are going to fork over some cheddar after their flops are reviewed by the league.

I think that this basically recognizes and brings attention to floppers in a way that doesn't necessarily impact the game but brings a bit of shame to the flopper.

Empty gesture

It's better than announcing the truth (that they are going to call more touch fouls against the superstars to increase scoring and fun for kids under 12).

You nailed it. I expect to see more out of control drives to the basket now, ending with someone yelling Hey! or something, and walking to the free throw line.

Good think Sheed is coming back to keep the refs honest.

I will watch every NYK game just to watch him trash talking on the bench.

At least he won't attack inanimate objects.

I would like to see Stuckey's summer workout pay off too.

Good article by Woj on this:
Union leaves players defenseless over NBA's new flopping fines - Yahoo! Sports

I'm all for it. Hard for refs to officiate for it in the game all the time and you would think players will now avoid the blatant flopping, if not straight away, after a few tens of thousands slip away.

Kind of ironic that some of the techs Sheed got for complaining about it may go the other way now if a player does it too often.

I just hope that the league will have the balls to fine offensive flops by Lebrons of the league.