Why NBA Would Be Unwise to Penalize Flopping

Flopping has started to become a major issue in the NBA, particularly during the playoffs when the stakes are highest. Players throw their bodies around without much contact at all, acting not in hopes of receiving an Emmy, but rather drawing a whistle and picking up an extra foul against their opponents. 

Frankly, I'm amazed we haven't seen the rare double-flop since LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and James Harden all like to act so much. 

Presumably as a result of the embarrassment on the court and the constant griping of NBA fans and teams, David Stern brought up the issue during a committee meeting and suggested that retroactive penalties could be levied against those who flop. 

Stern has made some bad moves lately, namely asking Jim Rome if he had stopped beating his wife, this would be the worst move of all, setting the stage for so many more complaints against his dictatorial power of the league. 

While flopping is indeed a problem, retroactive penalties aren't the solution. There needs to be some sort of statute of limitations on minor things like trying to draw extra fouls.

It's one thing to hand down suspensions after the fact when a player elbows someone in the temple or goes into the stands to punch a fan. It's another thing to do the same when a player does no damage to anything or anyone other than their own pride and reputation.

Acting is part of the game. Don't act so surprised. Players have always tried to milk things and receive the benefit of the doubt.

If we're going to penalize players for flopping, we also need to penalize them for not telling the official, "Hey man, that ball actually hit off of me. It's the other team's ball." Isn't that the same thing? In both situations, the players are concealing the truth to gain an advantage for their squad.

Moreover, how do you decide what is a flop and what isn't? It's too difficult to come up with any hard and fast rules, meaning that everything would be entirely subjective.

If LeBron drives into the lane and takes contact before flailing his arms wildly to sell the call, is that a flop? Or does the rule only apply if there was no contact and he tried to act like there was?

Eliminating subjectivity is important, but a rule like this would just be promoting after-the-fact subjectivity.

Until I hear a better system, I can't agree with any penalties, even though I do acknowledge that flopping is a black eye on the sport.