NBA fines Pacers' Roy Hibbert for flop on Heat’s Mario Chalmers
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bk5slgFVuoU?rel=0&w=600&h=338]
The NBA has fined Pacers center Roy Hibbert $5,000 for flopping on Heat guard Mario Chalmers during Indiana's 93-90 victory in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals on Wednesday.
Hibbert's flop came with a little over minutes remaining in the fourth quarter and Indiana leading 79-75. After Lance Stephenson drove to the basket and missed a running lay-up attempt, Hibbert positioned himself for an offensive rebound. Heat guard Mario Chalmers, also in search of a rebound, dropped down into the paint and bumped Hibbert with his right forearm. In response, Hibbert let his body go, flailing both arms in the air and launching himself towards the baseline. No foul was called and play continued the other way.
This type of flop was specifically brought up in the NBA’s official video introducing its flopping policy. In the video, then-Hawks forward Josh Smith fell quickly to the ground while fighting for a rebound with then-Celtics forward Paul Pierce after getting pushed in the back.
“As the highlighted defensive player prepares for a potential rebound, he feels slight contact from his opponent in his back,” the narrator explains. “He then falls forward and collapses to the floor in an obvious over-embellishment. The actions of the player in the white uniform are inconsistent with the level of contact on the play and is designed to draw an unearned loose ball foul on his opponent. Again, this flop will be penalized."
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Hibbert will now be subject to the postseason fine scale for flopping.
Violation 1: $5,000 fine
Violation 2: $10,000 fine
Violation 3: $15,000 fine
Violation 4: $30,000 fine
If a player violates the anti-flopping rule five times or more, he will be subject to discipline that is reasonable under the circumstances, including an increased fine and/or suspension.
The NBA also fined Stephenson $10,000 for his second flopping violation of the Eastern Conference finals after he flopped on Heat forward LeBron James.
The Heat lead the series 3-2. Game 6 is in Miami on Friday. Miami is seeking its fourth straight trip to the Finals.
