Step aside soccer, there’s a new king in town. And, no, I don’t mean King Charles III.
For years, soccer players were considered the biggest floppers in sports…and rightfully so. It was one of the few reasons why I, along with many other Americans, couldn’t embrace the sport. Players flopping all over the soccer field, known as the ‘pitch,’ were difficult to watch.
And this comes from one of Portuguese decent – with all my grandparents having been born in Portugal, where soccer is a way of life.
For those who read my blog, you know that I’ve been extremely critical of the NBA in recent years. Chucking up thirty to fifty 3-ponters per game is not what I call basketball. Unfortunately, it’s not going to change any time soon, so I’ve reluctantly come to accept it as part of today’s game.
However, one thing that I will NEVER accept in today’s game is the constant flopping that’s occurring. It has been happening for a while but is now totally out of control…and it’s ruining the NBA.
Hence, it’s official, the NBA is now the King of Flopping.
During the regular season, I generally only watch my home team, the Boston Celtics, who has one of the league’s top floppers in Marcus Smart. However, come the playoffs, I watch most of the games, which quickly makes me realize that Smart’s flopping is nowhere near that of the league’s premier floppers…
Enter LeBron James, James Harden, Joel Embiid, Kyle Lowry, Trae Young, Draymond Green, and Anthony Davis.
Watching these floppers, especially at the offensive end of the floor, is unforgivingly cringeworthy.
With my Celtics recently closing out the Philadelphia 76ers in seven games, I was forced to watch the two biggest floppers on one team – Harden and Embiid. Those two are an embarrassment to the NBA. Luckily, as the series developed, the refs refrained from calling too many flopping fouls. Don’t get me wrong, they both got their fair share of calls, but it could have been worse. And in the end, when Harden and Embiid stopped getting those flopping calls….they both quit on their team! An observation that was also held by many Sixers fans, as heard on Philadelphia’s sports talk-radio station 94WIP.
As usual, the Philly fans were brutal.
As the Celtics move on to the next round, the flopping will subside, with the Miami Heat showcasing only one big-time flopper, Kyle Lowry.
However, in the Western Conference Championship (Lakers vs Nuggets), we get to see the #1 flopper in the game…no, in the WORLD…LeBron James, also known as LeFlop.
Watching how easily this strapping behemoth (6’9” 250 pounds) goes down when slightly touched is hilarious…and aggravating!
Considered by many to be one of (if not the) greatest players ever in the NBA (not I), LeFlop is a huge embarrassment to the league. It’s bad enough he already gets all the calls, but when the refs start giving him phantom calls due to his flopping, it’s infuriating!
Good luck Denver fans…I’m rooting for your Nuggets!
Officiating in the NBA has been suspect for years. By allowing flopping in the game, it’s now the worst it has ever been.
It’s long past time for NBA executives to take heed and do something about this disgraceful play…and save your league.
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