NBA Might Penalize Players for `Flopping,' League Official Says

By Scott Soshnick

Jan. 25 (Bloomberg) -- National Basketball Association players who fake fouls might soon be penalized themselves, a league official said.

The NBA is studying how often feigned fouls, known as ``flops,'' occur and whether officials can consistently tell the difference between actual fouls and embellishments, said Stu Jackson, the executive vice president for basketball operations.

``They're really difficult to determine in real time. They're meant to fool an official,'' Jackson told reporters today. ``Are we going to be wrong more times than not? It's tough, but we're looking at it.''

FIBA, the governing body for international basketball, allows referees to impose a technical foul for flopping, a penalty that Jackson said the NBA is considering. Other sports, including soccer and hockey, also allow officials to penalize players who embellish fouls.

``We have so many more plays than you do in a football or soccer game and in a more intimate environment,'' said Jackson, who didn't offer a timetable for a decision.

Jackson met with reporters in New York to discuss the league's officiating program.



I think this is a good idea. I personally am kind of tired of all the flopping players do nowadays. It used to be only a few players would flop, but now just about every player has learned how to flop in certain situations. I think the practice takes away from the game and issuing a technical foul seems like a potential means of stopping it. The difficulty is going to be how often the refs issue technicals. As long as techs are not issued too often, I think it can curb the abuse of flopping without have too much of an impact on the overall game.

The other thing that the NBA should look at are these offensive fouls when a player has left his feet and the defensive player cuts in front of him and sets before impact. To me, that is just stupid. What is the offensive players supposed to do? If the defensive player gets there before the offensive players has left his feet, then it should be an offensive foul. However, if the defensive player is not there until after the offensive player has left his feet, I think it should be a defensive foul. Maybe you can say the defensive player does not have to be completely set, but he needs to at least be in front of the offensive player before the offensive player leaves his feet. Not sure what the NBA rule states, but the refs actual implementation of the rule is flawed IMO.

Posted by TheGame:


I think this is a good idea. I personally am kind of tired of all the flopping players do nowadays. It used to be only a few players would flop, but now just about every player has learned how to flop in certain situations. I think the practice takes away from the game and issuing a technical foul seems like a potential means of stopping it. The difficulty is going to be how often the refs issue technicals. As long as techs are not issued too often, I think it can curb the abuse of flopping without have too much of an impact on the overall game.

The other thing that the NBA should look at are these offensive fouls when a player has left his feet and the defensive player cuts in front of him and sets before impact. To me, that is just stupid. What is the offensive players supposed to do? If the defensive player gets there before the offensive players has left his feet, then it should be an offensive foul. However, if the defensive player is not there until after the offensive player has left his feet, I think it should be a defensive foul. Maybe you can say the defensive player does not have to be completely set, but he needs to at least be in front of the offensive player before the offensive player leaves his feet. Not sure what the NBA rule states, but the refs actual implementation of the rule is flawed IMO.

I agree on both counts. Flopping takes away from the game. Issuing technicals will cut it down considerably. Also, it's a good idea to have the league look at situations where defensive players get under a player after he jumps. Plays like that could cause serious injuries.

Posted by Allanfan20:

If the defensive player is there first and his feet are set, then it should be an offensive foul.

I like the flopping rule though. It does kind of take away from the game.

Agreed. The league needs to get back to the point where players play hard for 48 mins to win... no more shortcuts by guys hoping to stay close for 45 mins and then try hard during the last few.

Posted by TheGame:



The other thing that the NBA should look at are these offensive fouls when a player has left his feet and the defensive player cuts in front of him and sets before impact. To me, that is just stupid. What is the offensive players supposed to do? If the defensive player gets there before the offensive players has left his feet, then it should be an offensive foul. However, if the defensive player is not there until after the offensive player has left his feet, I think it should be a defensive foul. Maybe you can say the defensive player does not have to be completely set, but he needs to at least be in front of the offensive player before the offensive player leaves his feet. Not sure what the NBA rule states, but the refs actual implementation of the rule is flawed IMO.

That is supposed to be a defensive foul- that is the rule, or at least it was at one time. Its not called anymore.

Its really interesting to watch an old game (70's or 80's) and see how calls were different.

My big thing is where the offensive player pump fakes the defender into the air, and then leaps into him.

The simple rule should be this: don't bail the offensive player out.

I am tired of watching guys like Wade getting touch fouls called for them- and then other players, like Marbury or others- get hammered in the lane, but no call.

Younger players are getting wiser than the older refs (flopping).

Penalizing them would improve guys playing defense for a change, just like wearing suits promotes professionalism.