"The LeBron/Jordan comparisons end today. LeBron is still a good player but 8 points and a flop in GAME 4 of the finals ends the debate."
That was a comment left on June 8th 2011 underneath this video on YouTube
I'm not here to start the LeBron Jordan debate or the "We hate LeBron and Miami" chanting. What I want to talk about is flopping in the NBA and Jeff Van Gundy's comments after the flop by LeBron in game 4.
"Those types of plays to me, are starting to make parts of our game a farse.
"Its happening more and more. Where is the cut off?"
Van Gundy makes a very legitimate point. This isn't the first time we've seen theatricals in this years Finals let alone the 2010/11 season.
Anyone else remember this from game 3?
Flopping has taken place in the NBA for years with recently retired Shaquille O'Neal complaining for much of his career that defenders used to flop and look for calls rather then play man to man against him (when age caught up on Shaq he was ridiculed for a flop he took against 23 year old centre Dwight Howard in '09) but it has become a more prominent part of the game in recent years, probably down to the increased money in the sport and therefore a increase in pressure on the players to win games at all cost.
It upsetting to see an takes a great deal away from the sport. Unfortunately its also very difficult to stamp out once it gets embedded into the game, as we have seen in football (soccer for you Yanks). Its up to the NBA and its referees to stamp it out as quickly as possible by imposing penalties on players that try to do it. A tough stance is needed so even if the player gets away with a flop/dive in the game itself, once it has been reviewed post-game fines and possibly bans should be imposed.
It also hurts players reputations a great deal as the opening comment shows. Michael Jordan is the best player the NBA has ever seen and he played the game both skilfully and physically. Since his introduction to the league in 2003 LeBron James has been hailed as the next Jordan. However with flops similar to the one James took in game 4 creeping into the forwards game more and more, the comparisons between James and Jordan are starting to fade away into the distance, leaving fans making comments such as "Jordan would never have done that?" for all the wrong reasons.
Basketball has to be quick and learn from the mistakes football made. Dont let diving/flopping become a staple part of the game because the line between acceptable and cheating can easily become blurred to both referees and fans.
If not we may be seeing NBA videos on YouTube that look similar to these.....
That was a comment left on June 8th 2011 underneath this video on YouTube
I'm not here to start the LeBron Jordan debate or the "We hate LeBron and Miami" chanting. What I want to talk about is flopping in the NBA and Jeff Van Gundy's comments after the flop by LeBron in game 4.
"Those types of plays to me, are starting to make parts of our game a farse.
"Its happening more and more. Where is the cut off?"
Van Gundy makes a very legitimate point. This isn't the first time we've seen theatricals in this years Finals let alone the 2010/11 season.
Anyone else remember this from game 3?
Flopping has taken place in the NBA for years with recently retired Shaquille O'Neal complaining for much of his career that defenders used to flop and look for calls rather then play man to man against him (when age caught up on Shaq he was ridiculed for a flop he took against 23 year old centre Dwight Howard in '09) but it has become a more prominent part of the game in recent years, probably down to the increased money in the sport and therefore a increase in pressure on the players to win games at all cost.
It upsetting to see an takes a great deal away from the sport. Unfortunately its also very difficult to stamp out once it gets embedded into the game, as we have seen in football (soccer for you Yanks). Its up to the NBA and its referees to stamp it out as quickly as possible by imposing penalties on players that try to do it. A tough stance is needed so even if the player gets away with a flop/dive in the game itself, once it has been reviewed post-game fines and possibly bans should be imposed.
It also hurts players reputations a great deal as the opening comment shows. Michael Jordan is the best player the NBA has ever seen and he played the game both skilfully and physically. Since his introduction to the league in 2003 LeBron James has been hailed as the next Jordan. However with flops similar to the one James took in game 4 creeping into the forwards game more and more, the comparisons between James and Jordan are starting to fade away into the distance, leaving fans making comments such as "Jordan would never have done that?" for all the wrong reasons.
Basketball has to be quick and learn from the mistakes football made. Dont let diving/flopping become a staple part of the game because the line between acceptable and cheating can easily become blurred to both referees and fans.
If not we may be seeing NBA videos on YouTube that look similar to these.....
Remember. Unless it's in a pool or the sea, diving has no place in sport.
Big fan of this one mate.
ReplyDeleteP.S where is the counter for blog views/hits?
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