NBA Will Fine Floppers, but Is That Enough?

On the contrary, watch an MLS game and you’ll see players who shove back when they’re pushed, rather than fall to the ground.

But, soccer does punish players who make obvious dives.  Referees can warn, and even eject, soccer players for faking, while the NBA has never had a system that punishes players for flopping.  But alas, now they do.

The only problem now is implementation.  As I said before, players will be fined, though the NBA still hasn’t discussed what the amounts will be or how repeat offenders will be punished.  And the league has yet to clarify if it will go back to review possible flops and decide upon penalties then.

But really, is fining a player enough?  I know basketball players want to spend their money on things other than paying fines, but all of them can easily afford to.  So if the NBA is really trying to crackdown on flopping and eliminate it from the game it needs to go further.

Threatening players with technicals or suspensions would be much more effective.  That may seem harsh, but flopping is so typical these days that it’s casting a bad light on the game.

Either way, referees are going to have a difficult job deciding who’s flopping and who’s not, just as they do now.  But put the idea of a technical or a suspension into players’ heads and they’ll be far less likely to risk taking a dive.

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