The NBA has released guidelines for flopping in the playoffs, and this time they really mean business:
Any player who is determined to have committed a flop during the 2013 Playoffs will be subject to the following:
- Violation 1: $5,000 fine
- Violation 2: $10,000 fine
- Violation 3: $15,000 fine
- Violation 4: $30,000 fine
If a player violates the anti-flopping rule five times or more, he will be subject to discipline that is reasonable under the circumstances, including an increased fine and/or suspension.
Seriously, they, like, really mean it this time. They swear:
…a key difference is that in the regular season every player’s first offense was granted with only a warning. Now the fines start immediately and quickly get steep.
Okay, we believe you, but:
In the regular season they spotted one flop for every 51 games played. (That’s one for roughly every 25,000 minutes of player time on the court.) At that rate, the whole playoffs will feature a grand total of two flops. In other words, the entire anti-flopping effort would amount to a couple of $5,000 holes in a couple of guys’ wallets — but no real need for any flopper to change strategy.
Err…nevermind.
[ESPN]
