LeBron James, Dwyane Wade Admit Flopping Can Be Effective Strategy

For LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, flopping wins championships.

Sure, that can be construed as a bit extreme, but what else are we supposed to believe?

The two Miami Heat superstars haven't done anything to quell the cries of those who would call them dirty floppers. They've actually perpetuated them.

"Some guys have been doing it for years, just trying to get an advantage," James said of flopping (via Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com). "Any way you can get an advantage over the opponent to help your team win, so be it."

Normally, LeBron's win-at-all-costs mantra would be cause for further adoration. "Oh how chivalrous he is," the world would cry. Nothing about his cavalier approach to flopping is valiant, though. Or normal. Or, let's face it, acceptable.

This is the same LeBron who refuted Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau's claim that he was a flop artist.

"I don't need to flop," he said at the time. "I play an aggressive game. I don't flop. I've never been one of those guys."

Just like Ray Allen has never been one to shoot threes. Or Chris "Birdman" Andersen has never been one to get tattoos.

Flopping can be looked at as a form of cheating. Players are feigning or exaggerating contact to manipulate the outcome of a game. That's what fouls, free throws and changes in possession do. They impact the score, they help sway momentum. They aid in determining a winner.

And we're supposed to believe that's alright just because it's effective? 

In an ideal world, LeBron would stand alone. Sadly the world isn't perfect, and LeBron isn't alone. His buddy Wade is right there with him.

"It happens," Wade said. "We would have no NBA possibly if they got rid of all the flopping."

I bet Wade also supports the legalization of kicking opposing players where the sun doesn't shine. Forearm shots to the head are just fine too. The NBA can't survive without those either.

Sorry, but we're not daft enough to buy that. Well, not all of us.

Egregious acts of embellishment aren't a necessary evil. The Association wouldn't cease to exist without them. It would be a far better place without flopping.

Just as the NBA would be a far better place without LeBron and Wade's arrant approaches to tactics that crassly taint the sanctity of this game.

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