First of all, the rule that instituted fining people who choose to flop was a stupid rule to begin with. Not that I didn't appreciate the league's attempt to keep Manu Ginobli from making me turn the channel until the part of the game when flops get ignored so that ref's don't dictate outcomes. The idea was beyond admirable, and my initial response came with an equal level of appreciation and trepidation when the rule came to be. The trepidation, however, comes from the difficulty with determining a flop in the first place.
Some Dude's (Me) Hack Too Much
I've personally stopped playing a lot of organized basketball simply because of the referee problem that makes it difficult for guys like me. While I admit to being one of the most skilled fouler's in the history of fouling, I also have never intentionally flopped. I have come to accept that shooting and flopping are not easy to do at the same time if you have any hope of making the shot. Despite the high double digit fouling that I intentionally get away with every single game that I play, I rarely foul out of games. On the other hand, since I don't understand the flop technique and usually absorb contact without major shot disruption, I often get fouled without getting the calls I deserve. In the grand scheme of things, it all probably balances out in the end.
You see, the problem with this whole flopping debate is that most really good referee's do not lean towards the heavy whistle side of basketball, especially in the NBA playoffs or old men basketball leagues when physicality amps up a bit. If basketball game officials chose to keep the whistle blowing in concert with the increased level of fouls in the playoffs, then the game would hardly be watchable.
In last nights Cavs .vs. Hawks game, I watched LeBron James drive to the whole with 3 dudes draped all over him on multiple occasions. No foul called. In fact, the only real hope that even LeBron, the best player in the world, has of getting a foul called during late game action is to flop a bit. Taking the foul strongly and focusing on finishing is a formula for getting the field goal, but not the "and one" or the two shot foul you probably deserve,
To Steph Curry's credit, he is paying $5,000 for a flop that really did happen, but not for the reason's that some guy's do it. Steph is a reactionary flopper in that he focuses on the shot, and falls away from the contact because small guys better fall away just to minimize the bangs and bruises that come with being great. If I were playing against Curry, I would have to assume he's shooting jump shots, and be near to poke, prod and manipulate his pre and post shot, until he becomes uncomfortable.
In other words, I would foul his arse as much as I could get away with. Such an approach is not novel. It is the only hope you have against these type of players. Conversely, flopping or accentuating the contact is the only hope that such players have to shine a light on the extra that goes on when stars shoot the ball. If you watch the play, Steph pushes off on Corey Brewer in order to gain the free look, and then gets brushed against the arm from a player trailing the action. With this player coming from the trail side, his near block of Curry forced the contact that lead to Curry's $5,000 flop.
To the NBA's credit, they've warned players of these potential fines over a year ago, so anyone who pays has very little room to point fingers. Actually, they could point fingers at the hundreds of players who continue to flop without penalty and ask the question of, why me? Why so sporadic in the enforcement of the rules and why would you decide to open blind eyes on this season's MVP, especially on a less than obvious flop?
There is a statement in this particular fine, but its neither clear or for Curry alone.
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