After watching most of the first round of the NBA Playoffs, there is a disturbing trend going on in the league. Rather than playing good defense, players just slide over and flop. There are some instances where a guy is out of control really does commit an offensive foul. Most of the time, though, the defensive player is still moving, sometimes undercutting the offensive player, and still gets the charge call.
First, the NBA needs to clearly define what makes up a "charge." It used to be you had to be set (not moving) and be in that position before the offensive player jumped.
Now, the only thing that seems to matter is the "charging" circle under the basket. It doesn't matter if you are moving, sliding, reaching, whatever. As long as your heels are outside of that line, you can flop all day and get calls all day.
Again, I think there are still offensive fouls. A guy is out of control, or he pushes off, or he drives with his head down. If you can get in position to take a charge, that should be a foul.
It is the constant flopping on any sort of contact that the NBA needs to do something about. It all started with Vlade Divac's Oscar worthy performances against Shaq and the Lakers. Now, it's all over the place.
For example, during the Lakers-Suns Game 4, there were 7 straight possessions where someone on Phoenix flopped. In last night's Game 5, there were 3 straight possessions of flopping. The refs don't call it every time, but it shows that this is a tactic some teams use. Miami also uses the flop more than others.
What this does is put the refs in a tough spot. It makes them have to call something. In college, there is the "no call," but in the NBA, it seems that if a player goes down, a foul must be called either way. This is exactly what the NBA wants to avoid -bringing the refs to the forefront of a game.
My solution to protect the integrity of the game, to teach kids that flopping isn't defense, is that an obvious flop gets a technical foul. In soccer or hockey (two of the most widely followed sports in America...), if you "dive" to get a call, you get a yellow card or a penalty. The same should go in the NBA.
They have already made their point about flailing, trying to draw a foul on offense. Kobe's suspensions and retroactive flagrants are proof. The NBA said that his flailing was not a "basketball play" and was putting others in danger.
If you ask me, players undercutting others trying to draw fouls is not a "basketball play" and puts others in more risk than Kobe's elbows. How many players have been seriously hurt falling awkwardly to the floor after a player steps in under them?
It is time for the NBA to make a stand and make teams play good defense. Offensive fouls will still happen, but flopping needs to stop.
First, the NBA needs to clearly define what makes up a "charge." It used to be you had to be set (not moving) and be in that position before the offensive player jumped.
Now, the only thing that seems to matter is the "charging" circle under the basket. It doesn't matter if you are moving, sliding, reaching, whatever. As long as your heels are outside of that line, you can flop all day and get calls all day.
Again, I think there are still offensive fouls. A guy is out of control, or he pushes off, or he drives with his head down. If you can get in position to take a charge, that should be a foul.
It is the constant flopping on any sort of contact that the NBA needs to do something about. It all started with Vlade Divac's Oscar worthy performances against Shaq and the Lakers. Now, it's all over the place.
For example, during the Lakers-Suns Game 4, there were 7 straight possessions where someone on Phoenix flopped. In last night's Game 5, there were 3 straight possessions of flopping. The refs don't call it every time, but it shows that this is a tactic some teams use. Miami also uses the flop more than others.
What this does is put the refs in a tough spot. It makes them have to call something. In college, there is the "no call," but in the NBA, it seems that if a player goes down, a foul must be called either way. This is exactly what the NBA wants to avoid -bringing the refs to the forefront of a game.
My solution to protect the integrity of the game, to teach kids that flopping isn't defense, is that an obvious flop gets a technical foul. In soccer or hockey (two of the most widely followed sports in America...), if you "dive" to get a call, you get a yellow card or a penalty. The same should go in the NBA.
They have already made their point about flailing, trying to draw a foul on offense. Kobe's suspensions and retroactive flagrants are proof. The NBA said that his flailing was not a "basketball play" and was putting others in danger.
If you ask me, players undercutting others trying to draw fouls is not a "basketball play" and puts others in more risk than Kobe's elbows. How many players have been seriously hurt falling awkwardly to the floor after a player steps in under them?
It is time for the NBA to make a stand and make teams play good defense. Offensive fouls will still happen, but flopping needs to stop.
