Post by kiyoat on Jan 17, 2019 9:22:50 GMT -6
Question for any of you Basketball refs, wonks, and fans:
When is it a flop (considered unsportsmanlike, or even cheating)
When is it "selling contact" (considered smart play)
I would contend that there is usually a fine line, and fans tend to get too worked up over it. The exact same play will be seen as a flop by opposing fans and a smart play by home fans. Many fans, myself included, are often unaware of their own inherent bias on this point. This, I think, is one of the reasons refereeing basketball is one of the most difficult officiating jobs in sports. That and the speed of the game.
Obviously if there is no contact it would absolutely be a flop. No question. I think that sometimes when this happens it is unsportsmanlike, but sometimes the player is just conditioned to sell contact, and might be anticipating contact that doesn't happen. Either way, it's a flop.
The severity of contact vs the "correct" level of selling contact is such a fine line, that I don't think we should be getting in such a tizzy over it. Just because we got to see it in slow-motion on instant replay doesn't mean we are experts, but I guess that is part of the fun, and the experience of being an armchair coach.
Another point I'd like to make, is that players that don't ever try to sell contact are putting themselves at a severe disadvantage. Similar to many sports. I was always impressed with how good Emily Clemens was at selling contact. Some might say she was flopping, but she was darn good at it, whatever you want to call it.
Discuss.
When is it a flop (considered unsportsmanlike, or even cheating)
When is it "selling contact" (considered smart play)
I would contend that there is usually a fine line, and fans tend to get too worked up over it. The exact same play will be seen as a flop by opposing fans and a smart play by home fans. Many fans, myself included, are often unaware of their own inherent bias on this point. This, I think, is one of the reasons refereeing basketball is one of the most difficult officiating jobs in sports. That and the speed of the game.
Obviously if there is no contact it would absolutely be a flop. No question. I think that sometimes when this happens it is unsportsmanlike, but sometimes the player is just conditioned to sell contact, and might be anticipating contact that doesn't happen. Either way, it's a flop.
The severity of contact vs the "correct" level of selling contact is such a fine line, that I don't think we should be getting in such a tizzy over it. Just because we got to see it in slow-motion on instant replay doesn't mean we are experts, but I guess that is part of the fun, and the experience of being an armchair coach.
Another point I'd like to make, is that players that don't ever try to sell contact are putting themselves at a severe disadvantage. Similar to many sports. I was always impressed with how good Emily Clemens was at selling contact. Some might say she was flopping, but she was darn good at it, whatever you want to call it.
Discuss.
