Mark Cuban unsure whether new NBA penalty will be able to discourage flopping during games – NBA News
The Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has spoken up against the new rules being enforced by the NBA to discourage flopping during games, saying that the fine could have “unintended consequences”. The new rules have enforced a warning
for the player on his first offence, a $5000 fine for the second offence and a $10,000 fine for the third offence. The fine goes up to $15,000 for the fourth offence and $30,000 for the fifth offence. Six or more offences could lead to a suspension.
"It depends on whether or not it changes how flopping in game is called. If it just causes the refs to give floppers the benefit of the doubt knowing the league can deal with it after the fact, it could have some unintended consequences,”
said Cuban in an email from Germany where the Dallas Mavericks are scheduled to play an exhibition game over the weekend.
Cuban is uncertain whether the new rules would help discourage players from flopping, and is also weary of the type of attention the media and broadcast crew would give to a play that may look questionable during end of game press
conferences. He had his own advice for the in-game officials to help them highlight flopping during games and penalize players who attempted to flop, saying that if a player falls on his butt, the chances are that he is trying to fool the official.
“The one thing the NBA should do, but of course it won't, is to make it so an offensive foul is NOT called if a guy falls on his butt. The biomechanics of force and resistance don't cause you to fall flat on your butt on contact,”
added Cuban in the email.
The new penalty imposed by the NBA has drawn a mixed reaction from different quarters, with many of the top players in the league including Kobe Bryant and James Harden siding with the decision, while many others doubting if it
will be successful in discouraging the act of flopping. The NBPA has also released a statement in which they have said that they have filed a grievance with the league for not consulting them or taking them in the loop before finalizing the new penalty.
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