The Lost Art Of Flopping
Though Pau Gasol is a great player and has put together a series of game clinching playoff performances, one piece of his puzzle still is very bothersome. 
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I don't watch much NBA basketball throughout the year, as I find the day to day action to be boring and very matter of fact. Each night, many of the leagues best players perform according to their interest level. On any given night your favorite player may not feel like playing defense or even worse he may be bored on the offensive end thus creating a floor full of players standing still waiting for the other to take the game over. Playoff Basketball is much different, as the passion is evident and the will to win is stronger. During these final months I tune in and enjoy every minute the NBA's best have to give. Until the aforementioned Pau Gasol flops all over the floor exaggerating a bump to receive a ref's call. This stuff has been going on for decades, and has its place in the game much like taking a charge does. What has happened over the past few years is unfortunate for the NBA, as I could imagine many feeling the way I do. Flopping has become an integral part of the game, showing its ugly face in critical minutes, and can swing a game just as quick as that clutch 3 point shot. With momentum playing such a big part in today's game from night to night, a game can fall out of reach in a 2 minute span. The art of flopping is an art Manu Ginobili has perfected throughout the years and what Pau Gasol has since mastered. It's embarrassing to watch a player of his size and talent jump 3 feet after being tapped in favor of receiving the foul call. In my opinion, it's not competing and takes credibility away from an otherwise great player. Other players don't have to make a spectacle out of themselves, and rather get fouled legitimately. To me this is no different than a player clearly lying about touching the ball last, or a player tripping another player as this clearly speaks to the integrity of the game. When you make it so obvious that the broadcasters are forced to comment on it, you may be over doing it a little. Pau's flops are so ridiculous they're obnoxious and borderline pathetic. He's a great basketball player and doesn't need this joke of a technique. I feel the league should strongly consider calling fouls on these blatent moments of acting only a De Niro or Pacino would appreciate. Pau flops so often it seems to have become part of his strategy, something I can say with confidence that never happened with greats such as Karl Malone or Charles Barkley. It just wasn't a part of their game, and unfortunately for them neither were championships. Flip Flop Pau has already claimed 1 title and is on his way to another. Is it just me, or should a phony like Pau receive one of those replica rings while his teammates enjoy the real things?
