FanNation

My biggest, baddest pet peeve in the NBA today is flopping.  I hate it so much.  It kills offensive flow, reduces scoring, and gives an unnecessary offensive foul.  I understand that it is a great strategy and a good way to get the ball back, but I prefer to watch straight up defense rather than the Oscars.

Some guys make careers out of flopping.  Stockton was among the best at acting, and in today's game players like Manu Ginobili (who I love otherwise) and Anderson Varejao (who I don't) are adept at faking, rather than taking, charges.  I also don't approve of the dramatic increase in offensive fouls, because I prefer to see someone try to block the shot, but that's neither here nor there.

Flopping is an art, and takes good timing.  Otherwise you just fall over and give your man an open shot.  But it makes a player look like such a wuss.  What I find ridiculous is when a player like Varajao, a solid 6'9", gets "bowled over" by a player like Leandro Barbosa, who is reality would just bounce off him.  Stand up and play defense like a man!

All the flopping around Shaq is killing the later part of his career. Players have learned that all they have to to is fall over when Shaq touches them, which is much better than trying to defend him.  Now, instead of dominating the paint like he used to, Shaq is forced to play like he's in a china cabinet.  It's almost sad to watch.  I realize Shaq is a big guy, but I doubt he can send Oberto into the stands the way Oberto seems to think he can.

Flopping is sadly here to stay, but I think it is a frastrating part of the game.  It slows it down, it is risky, and it gives talented post players too many offensive fouls.