(Source) - Oklahoma State guard Marcus Smart is frustrated with his growing reputation but told ESPN he's not the only one flopping.
"I've probably built up a little reputation, and I'm not questioning that," Smart said after the Cowboys' latest loss -- at home in triple overtime Monday to Iowa State -- the team's fourth defeat in its past five contests. "But I'm not the only one flopping. Every team and every player does it to make sure you get the call."
Smart decided to return to Stillwater for his sophomore season despite being considered a lock for a high-lottery pick had he decided to enter the 2013 NBA draft. He told ESPN that he has no regrets about spurning millions and returning to school, even though his team is struggling and he has displayed his frustration on the court with emotional outbursts.
One reason for Smart's dissatisfaction lately is what he considers inconsistency with officiating. He said the emphasis on handchecking rules, which went into effect prior to the season, has played a significant factor.
"It's so inconsistent," Smart said about the new rules. "We have no idea what to expect. And as a player, it messes with your mind.
"It's incredible how inconsistent the new rules have been. If they call it on one end, they have to call it on the other end. I don't blame it on anyone. It's a big adjustment for the refs also. They're learning just like us."
As I've made abundantly clear, I absolutely despise flopping. It's not just that it's pussy basketball. It's not just that it's an entirely European influence on an American dominated sport. It's not just that it makes some of the world's best athletes look as soft as baby shit. It's the fact that it's becoming second nature to these guys and the league is letting it happen. Do you honestly think hard-nosed defenders like Smart agree with flopping? Fuck no, no way. If he could have it his way the league would get rid of all the rules that restrict hand checking and let basketball be played the way it should be, the way it was played in the Golden Age of the 80s and 90s - physically.
I never got the reasoning behind banning hand checking. It's not like the rules cut back on injuries at all. The only thing it does is make it easier to score to make the game flashier than it's ever been. When in reality it's turned the league into the closest thing America has to watchable soccer. It's a bunch of giant pansies running around pretending to get bumped and falling over like they just got trucksticked. Meanwhile the league that is "determined" to stop such behavior hands out chump change fines that even the lowest paid rookie would scoff at. Now you have guys like Smart - real basketball players who prefer a more physical game - being forced to change their style of play to cope with the changing on-court environment. He's getting a bad rap for being smart and adjusting with changing times. Do I like that he flops? Hell no, but at least he admits that he's being forced to do it as a result of what he's going to see on the next level. LeBron on the other hand (arguably the most physically imposing player in the league) still absolutely refuses to acknowledge that he's ever done it even once.
"I don’t need to flop. I play an aggressive game but I don’t flop. I’ve never been one of those guys. I don’t need to flop. I don’t even know how to do it. So it doesn’t mean much to me."
- Lebron James
If the new commish had any brains he would stop flopping altogether. But if he's going to do it he needs to change the rule from some bullshit fine to an automatic one-game suspension without pay. Second offense is the same deal. Third offense is three games without pay plus an additional fine. If that seems rough then deal with it. If you think about it, it's really not that hard to stop cheating. It shouldn't be difficult to resist falling down when someone doesn't make legitimate contact. The only way to show the players that flopping isn't worth it is to make it not worth it. Charging a guy $5,000 when he makes millions a year isn't going to do shit. It's either that or let basketball move forth into the next era of the pussification of American sports.
PS - Why don't the vets speak out about this more? They're getting passed up in the record books because it's easier for guys in the league to do everything now. All of the greats who had to dogfight for everything they earned are getting shown up by a bunch of sissies. Obviously I'm not Jordan, Isiah Thomas, or Bird but if I were and I saw these candy asses getting mentioned in the same breath as me I would be livid. I'm shocked they haven't taken more of a stand against the style that's played today.
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