Rondo warned by the league for flop

[European NBA fan]

As mgent points out, Rondo and Teague banged their knees together, and it was Rondo's right knee, the same where he tore his ACL. If I were him, I would also rather fall back than take the full impact.

It might have been a flop, but I prefer to give our players the benefit of a doubt.

[pokeKingCurtis]

The only reason the league stepped in was because the blog-sphere went crazy over it today and gave it attention..they almost had to. Just like the one with Lebron earlier this year that started the little Lebroning craze that the kids were doing in school (just falling out in the middle of the hall without being touched..lol). Trust they wouldn't have given Lebron that warning if it wasn't all over the internet.

Edit: Did he get a warning???

So true.

Was it a bad flop, if at all a flop? No. As others have pointed out, he may have been anticipating a charge, his knee might have been in danger, he was backpedaling...all of which could have contributed to the fall. Maybe he flopped. But there's a strong case on the contrary.

What sucks is this will get lumped together with the LeBron flops. Or Chris Paul flops. Or Wade flops.

[D.o.s.]

pokeKing, I usually agree with you, but Rondo pulled a Duke, plain and simple.

I studied the video and I do not agree with the warning because Rondo's was not an obvious flop. He made a basketball play just like Mahorn's 'chair pulling' move in the post. Rondo did not flail his arms in an obvious attempt to get a call. The refs should earn their keep and not call non fouls, but the players should not be required to stand their and get injured because they are going to be accused of flopping.

There are two reasonable explanations for Rondo on that play.

1. He was falling away because his stance had already disrupted Teague's advance to the basket. Not necessarily a flop. OR

2. He stepped in to take the charge but either thought better about it because of the tank or because he is not yet sure about his knee.

I just did not see the overly dramatic act of flopping and looing to the ref for a call.

Players should not be fined for protecting their bodies or making smart basketball plays.

Now this gets a TP for the sheer amount of hair splitting and mental gymnastics. 

I will also refer you guys to this play, because it's funny:

[Mazingerz]

I still have to wait for Lebron, Chris Paul and Wade to get warnings for flopping.

[Celtics4ever]

League is total joke about LeBron.   All the walks he gets away with, all the flops and phantom fouls, LeBron is surely the fakest player all of time.

[Endless Paradise]

LeBron was fined during the playoffs last year for flopping, as were David West and Lance Stephenson.  Chris Paul was warned for flopping earlier this year.  James Harden was warned and fined for flopping this year.

Rondo's flop was certainly deserving of a warning, because it was a flop and a blatant one, at that.  I get that you're Celtics fans here, but you would most certainly be calling that a flop if Teague had pulled what Rondo did.  Just like Sully earlier this year, Rondo flopped.  No biggie, not like he was fined this time.

[Fafnir]

Given how effective flopping is if you're not getting a flopping warning at some point you're not maximizing as a player. Trying to take a charge is a good thought in transition like that, though it looks hilarious when it plays out like that.

Everybody flops, key is for the refs not to fall for it so often.

[dark_lord]

a lot of nba players flop......the nba has rewarded floppers with calls, now they are looking at fining players.  they are over thinking things to try to rectify the problem.  rather than fine players....the refs should not reward the flop with the call, consistently. the refs could use replay if needed (even though i hate making the game longer). the nba could hold their refs accountable. the nba is notorious for not holding their officials responsible.  the donoghy scandal was relatively swept under the rug, and anyone even questioning calls after a game gets fined, even when they might be right.  superstars should not get special treatment, plain and simple.  a foul is a foul, regardless of yrs in the league or ability.

[kozlodoev]

I studied the video and I do not agree with the warning because Rondo's was not an obvious flop. He made a basketball play just like Mahorn's 'chair pulling' moves in the post. Rondo did not flail his arms in an obvious attempt to get a call. The refs should earn their keep and not call non fouls, but the players should not be required to stand there and get injured because they are going to be accused of flopping.

There are two reasonable explanations for Rondo on that play.

1. He was falling away because his stance had already disrupted Teague's advance to the basket. Not necessarily a flop. OR

2. He stepped in to take the charge but thought better about it either because of the tank or because he is not yet sure about his knee.

I just did not see the overly dramatic act of flopping and looking to the ref for a call.

Players should not be fined for protecting their bodies or making smart basketball plays.

I don't know what you were looking at. Rondo started falling backwards when Teague was about 2 feet away from him at least -- that is, before any sort of contact even started occurring. Seemed quite obvious to me.