Todd’s Nods: Flipping Floppers

The NBA made a slight change to the rulebook this year.

Photo Courtesy of lowprofilrecords.com

Starting this season, players will now be fined by the league when it has been deemed that they are intentionally trying to dupe officials by flopping.

Players will receive a warning the first time and then the fines begin on a progressive scale starting at $5,000. All plays will be reviewed by the league and not the officials.

Players have responded with mixed feelings. Many have voiced their concern that the rule should be an in-game violation in order to actually stop the offenders from flopping. Others have stated that flopping is so part of the game that it might completely alter how the game is played if it’s removed.

Hilariously, the man known most for flopping — Vlade Divac — has said that it’s about time someone has tried to crack down on the epidemic of flopping.

The league should get obvious flopping out of the game, but this is simply not the way to do so. In Europe, players receive an in-game warning and then a technical foul for the offense. Thus, flopping has real consequences to the game.

By fining millionaires small amounts of cash after the game is over, the league is behaving counter-intuitively. This feels like punishing the cat to spite the dog more so then actually being effective at ending flopping in basketball.

Hopefully the league will realize how ineffective this will be sooner rather then later.

Todd’s Nods is a reoccurring column that is open to the public. If you know of a sports story that is worth the nod please tweet @toddcvaughan