In basketball, as in life, we need to convince and sell. A fake must be believable to be effective. A fake is deception, and just like the best players who have played the game, they have employed strategies and moves that rely heavily on misdirection.
If these moves have been glorified, why are floppers being condemned like criminals? Is it not just another method of misdirection and convincing power?
Let’s be real. Every basketball player has flopped at some point. If you play now, you will flop. You would want your defender to be assessed a foul, since that would be added points or a possession in your favor. If your defender uses their body to impede your offensive movement, you would rather they be called a foul than keep grinding on your shoulder.
That is the supreme difference between professional athletes and ordinary folk like us: they can make their thoughts happen. Through skill, talent, timing, and sometimes, sheer willpower, they get what they want, and we want to watch them do it.
Fall Rate
The game is now played at a faster pace than it was in the 90s. There are more attempts, more possessions, and higher scores. And yet, the defense has responded. Defensive strategies are more complex and intense, even as the calls have gotten softer or stricter (depends on your perspective).
Here’s the statistic that fueled the fire (since it was already controversial even two years back): Shai Gilgeous-Alexander falls on the floor over 17% of the times that he drives to the basket. More often than not, that’s a foul.
However, in terms of being a “foul merchant” the champ is Luka Doncic who took 645 free throws in 64 games, averaging over 10 a game, while SGA has nine per outing.
What do these stats mean, if they do mean anything? SGA falls more because his game is anchored on smooth penetrations, and he is also much thinner than Luka. The Laker top dog relies on change of pace and post-ups, and he’s stocky. Fall rate by itself is not a fair indicator.
Flopping Vs Complaining
Luka Doncic has been notorious for complaining to the refs. He was meted an automatic suspension in late March for reaching 16 technical fouls. In contrast, SGA is mostly composed, definitely less than most of his fellow stars.
Complaining to the refs will rarely get you to overturn a call (unless it is challenged), but it does trigger the mind game against the referees. It’s a preparation for the subsequent plays. In a subconscious way, it does exert some push to call the foul next time. Is it effective? Luka is the free throw attempt leader (and scoring champ) so it’s hard to ignore.
These two players have contrasting styles and demeanor, but both are guilty of exaggerating the mildest of contact. However, there is not a soul in the NBA who can claim that they have never done that.
The Verdict
The concept of a “worse” flopper is highly subjective and dependent on what you consider a flop. Is exaggerating reaction to actual contact a flop? Or is it only a flop when there was no actual contact?
It’s no coincidence that notorious floppers are also the best scorers. Remember James Harden? He led the NBA in scoring for three consecutive seasons, in which time he was considered the worst flopper in the league.
Does that mean flopping is actually a measure of success? Or that the idea of the worst flopper is directly proportional to scoring–which is also an outcome of high usage and proactive offense.
I can’t say who’s worse, but what I can conclude is that both players incorporate flops in their overall offensive strategy, In contrast, some players flop and do not contribute much else.
For me, those floppers are worse. Those who flop primarily to instigate rather than actually make a play. Luka and SGA are not guilty of those as they do almost everything to lead their team. That can sometimes include flopping.
Meanwhile, there is one prediction right: the New York Knicks have won the Eastern Conference.
