Despite penalty, league commissioner questions whether measures go far enough.
Miami’s Chris Bosh was slapped with a $5,000 fine for flopping in game four of the NBA finals, the league announced.
The incident took place 5:53 into the second quarter of the contest at AT&T Center which the Heat won 109-93 over the San Antonio Spurs to knot the best-of-seven series at two games apiece.
Bosh was positioned near the Heat basket and next to San Antonio’s Tim Duncan. As the play was going on around him, Bosh suddenly threw both arms into the air and collapsed to the floor. He had to be helped to his feet by teammate LeBron James.
A surprised looking Duncan was called for an offensive foul on the play.
Bosh’s fine comes less than a week after commissioner David Stern said the league would continue to crack down on exaggerated falls by fining players and even considering suspensions if it continues to be a problem.
The league brought in fines for flopping this season and players now receive a $5,000 penalty for a first offence.
Last month, Stern fined Heat star James and David West and Lance Stephenson of the Indiana Pacers $5,000 each for flopping in game four of the Eastern Conference finals.
Stern said the next step in the crackdown would be to bring in suspensions, but he is not sure the league is willing to go that far.
“You are not going to cause somebody to stop it for $5,000 when the average salary is $5.5 million,” Stern said.
COMMENTS