More NBA Crackdowns

In its quest to purify the league, NBA officials are considering instituting penalties for defensive "flops." Although I agree with it on principal because flopping is rather unprofessional and it pains me to see poor defense (and poor acting) rewarded when nothing illegal was done, I would rather see the referees focus more on the other kind of flop. I get much more aggravated watching guys pump fake their opponent into the air and then attemp to draw a foul in order to get to the free-throw line. I'm not talking about down low on the blocks, or if one player jumps into another, but rather when a player is about to shoot a perimeter shot and the defender jumps straight up into the air to the side of the shooter in an effort to contest the shot but would clearly avoid contact and the shooter knowingly leans into the defender to make it appear like a foul. It drives me crazy to see it rewarded with a whistle because the offender created the contact.

For instance, look at Sunday night's game between the Lakers and Spurs. It was a two-point game and Kobe Bryant took the desperation shot at the buzzer. Kobe, being a master at the crime detailed above, put up the jump-shot and on his way down flailed his arms uncontrollably, absolutely clocking Manu Ginobili right in the face. Kobe was suspended for one game because it is NBA policy that "striking a player above the shoulders is an automatic one-game suspension." Of course Kobe is outraged and the Tuesday night NBA Courtside crew can't believe it because "he didn't intend to hit him in the face." Noone refutes that because Manu isn't even in Kobe's line of sight, but he DID intend to recklessly swing his arms. I don't think it was malicious and I don't think he even planned on doing it. I honestly think it was out of habit. But don't take my word for it. I encourage you to view the play for yourself and tell me whether or not it was a natural movement. You will clearly see him unnaturally swing his arm after he realized the shot wasn't going to go in. And THAT's the problem with offensive flopping.

Futhermore, why punish defensive flopping? Just don't call it! Every time you see a play let go in which a player flops there is a guaranteed defensive breakdown along with an offensive player immediately wide open. I'd bet about 80% of non-called defensive flops result in points for the offense. An offensive flop does the opposite, it gives the culprit points (usually at the free-throw line).

The solution? Just swallow your whistle and let 'em play. On second thought, if you stopped calling all flops it would actually force them to play.