Did Smart flop?

[positivitize]

not a flop. If you are set in your stance (he was), you cant get both feet (at the same time) to kick out and up without getting a ton of force in the chest. If you watch closely, Smart's feet go forward then up simultaneously. Flops either start with feet going up then forward at the same time(as one jumps back to start the flop), or one's feet going forward then up in a staggered manner, or (of course) if one's feet aren't set.

He did embellish with a sound and a little arm flailing, but he was hit and going down either way.

TL;DR-- Not a flop. A good, strong defensive play. It is impossible to have your set feet go out than up simultaneously without a ton of force hitting you in the chest. Smart waved his arms as he fell.

[footey]

By exaggerating the amount of contact, it was a flop. Doesn't matter; Melo threw a brick.

[slamtheking]

Whether it's a flop or not it's still an offensive foul...his shoulder lowered and he's driving into the stationary player. 

agreed.  Smart may have oversold that a bit but Melo initiated the contact and it wasn't a love tap

[BASS_THUMPER]

[fairweatherfan]

Reading the thread there seems to be a lot of disagreement about what "flop" means, so I'll just say Smart definitely sold the contact by falling down abruptly.  In today's NBA you usually need to do that to get calls, though.

[droopdog7]

Picture perfect example of a flop really.  And have people forgotten that Marcus came into the league with a reputation for flopping?

And yes, Melo initiated contact but I think we all know that is legal.  The question is whether it was excessive contact initiated by Melo and I say not even close.  Not even close.

[BASS_THUMPER]

[TheTruthFot18]

All the news people calling this the flop of the century, greatest flop ever, etc. fail to note that Smart is one of the better (best?) defenders in the league in drawing charges. Or at least attempting them correctly.

I didn't think anything of it at the time (didn't seem like a charge or foul at the time), then I open up ESPN, BR, Twitter, and everyone is losing their minds.

Just look up Kevin Durant (helicopter) flop and you'll realize this is overblown.

[Tr1boy]

Hear no evil, see no evil

[D Dub]

if the same play happens at an outdoor court with no refs, Smart doesn't fall down. 

still shoulda been a charge though.

[fairweatherfan]

All the news people calling this the flop of the century, greatest flop ever, etc. fail to note that Smart is one of the better (best?) defenders in the league in drawing charges. Or at least attempting them correctly.

I didn't think anything of it at the time (didn't seem like a charge or foul at the time), then I open up ESPN, BR, Twitter, and everyone is losing their minds.

Just look up Kevin Durant (helicopter) flop and you'll realize this is overblown.

Most of the best defenders at drawing charges do it by flopping a lot.  You don't get many charges by standing your ground.

I'm not sure why this particular play is getting so much attention though, other than happening in NYC.

[jambr380]

Bass Thumper has posted a couple of really good videos of actual Marcus flops...and you have to love his timing, right? Just impeccable. But what he did last night and in these clips is not even close. Contact was clearly initiated by Carmelo and Smart took advantage of it. I think people have different interpretations of what a flop really is, but I think Bass Thumper's videos show what the real difference is.