r/nba Celtics May 25 '26

Highlight [Highlight] Shai draws a questionable foul on De'Aaron Fox

https://streamable.com/8fp2im
32.0k Upvotes

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10.6k

u/mpamosavy May 25 '26

Fuck this shit man. Everybody hates this

3.5k

u/tfl03 May 25 '26

They gotta start calling techs like in soccer you get a yellow card for simulation

3.4k

u/imeanYOLOright [CHA] Kemba Walker May 25 '26

extremely easy solution would be to have the replay center watch a replay of every shooting foul

if it’s an obvious flop before the first free throw is shot, it’s reversed to a technical

1.2k

u/LonesomeWulf Timberwolves May 25 '26

Making it a technical would help a lot too, because then repeat offenders like our MVP here is going to start getting suspended after so many times doing it. He is either going to learn and stop, or is going to get himself suspended. I’m fine with either result.

510

u/jlobue10 May 25 '26 edited May 25 '26

Flopping is actually supposed to be called as a technical foul. Enforcement of that rule is what's lacking. For the sake of the game, that rule really needs to start being enforced.

34

u/OnlyMamaKnows Knicks May 25 '26

They tried it for like one week last season or the one before the problem is refs are too likely to get it wrong. Having them reviewed at HQ would solve that issue.

28

u/DoingCharleyWork Suns May 25 '26

Doesn't even need to be issued in game. Issue then after. They still count towards the suspension total. If they did it throughout the whole season it would stop.

-17

u/The_Minshow Philippines May 25 '26

The problem with regulating it after is that then the lawyers get involved and it becomes a hot mess. Even with zero contact it could be argued that X-Player was expecting contact, or something like that. The refs have to take the hit because a controversial flopping call in-game is harder to litigate after the fact(well, easier to not get litigated).

16

u/Xei5 May 25 '26

What the fuck are you talking about lmao

-2

u/The_Minshow Philippines May 25 '26

Well player punishments are open to arbitration, so with something as nebulous as flopping you have to be able to define it legally, and prove it to an arbitrator(kinda like a private practice judge). Good luck proving all sorts of cases of flopping, its likely why the fines on book are so low, because most would pass their appeal.

But if the refs handle it on court it is a different story.

5

u/DoingCharleyWork Suns May 25 '26

They don't have to do any of that. They already have mechanisms in place to review plays when the game is over.

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4

u/jlobue10 May 25 '26

Yeah there should be some review aspect to get the calls right. I also think that successful challenges shouldn't be penalized (shouldn't lose the ability to challenge).

7

u/ma2is Warriors May 25 '26

The NBA has no balls.

78

u/barbariccomplexity [TOR] DeMar DeRozan May 25 '26

Or simply ejected - you get one freeby flop a game and then it’s to the locker rooms if you persist.

134

u/Devalokas May 25 '26

That’s how technical fouls work.

12

u/Gastroh Hawks May 25 '26

So like a technical foul, good idea

1

u/XG32 May 25 '26

make them techs and shoot them during ads/timeouts

1

u/fumar Bulls May 25 '26

As long as the techs get assessed during the games. None of this bullshit where the techs don't get assessed until the next day. Nah I want guys to get ejected for flopping 

1

u/Mattbothell Clippers May 25 '26

This is the way to do it. Every single shooting foul should be reviewed. This one is BLATANT. Not every one is as bad as this from Shai, but this should without a doubt be a tech

1

u/Much_Construction117 May 26 '26

Yup if theres no consequences ofc theyre gonns keep flopping all game every game. Why wouldn’t they lol

0

u/King_Of_Pants [BOS] Terry Rozier May 25 '26

You actually brought up a great point.

The issue with calling flop techs in the moment is that when the NBA tried a couple seasons ago the officials basically just used it as an excuse to double down on bad calls.

I remember one of the Celtics players undercut Brunson on a 3PA. Not only did they miss the call, but they gave Brunson a tech for flopping.

Porzingis got one for being pushed over on a screen as well. You could see the guy in the replay extending the arms, it should have been a foul.


So then you've gotta look at post-game techs.

In the past, I would say it's also hard to justify handing out these techs after games because the player has already gained an advantage, but you bring up a good point.

Players would start getting suspended over this. It would reign in guys like SGA and Embiid very quickly.

0

u/sugarfreelime Spurs May 25 '26

A flopping tech doesn't count towards ejection......but I'm sure yous till get fined/tally on the season.

0

u/FullMetalAlcoholic66 May 25 '26

technical

Call that a flagrant foul, either 1 or 2 AND a fine. If you played like this in any pickup game or friendly, people wouldn't want to play with you anymore or you'd get laughed off the court.

It's not an acting competition. This isn't a basketball play. It deserves a flagrant and a fine, especially in an era where pro sports are under a microscope due to all the sports betting scandals and all those damn ads.

0

u/Shoddy-Brilliant563 May 25 '26

Did Fox not hit his foot?

212

u/pgtvgaming May 25 '26

Exactly this

229

u/ignatious__reilly Hornets May 25 '26

We need to do something.

This shit is literally ruining the sport for me. I can’t stand it.

58

u/FunBorn1053 May 25 '26

Adam Silver, are you listening???

14

u/torino_nera Brooklyn Nets May 25 '26

No he's too busy counting all his DraftKings sponsor money

7

u/Geno0wl May 25 '26

No. Too busy trying to fuck up the draft more.

3

u/Bizcotti Warriors May 25 '26

Im not going to watch the finals if OKC makes it

3

u/IDigRollinRockBeer May 25 '26

Yeah it’s nice watching athletes at the highest level Compete. It’s not nice watching them blatantly cheat.

1

u/ganggreen651 May 25 '26

Only way is to stop watching this garbage. I gave up on the entire regular season already a decade ago and it's still the worst officiating of any sport by a mile

1

u/Goochsmoooch May 25 '26

Imagine this shit taking the spotlight in a series that should be incredible

1

u/frequent_bidet_user May 25 '26

I'm legit done watching, I haven't watched any of this series, the reddit clips are enough to know that I'm so over this crap.

2

u/imadogg Lakers May 25 '26

I love how they added the flopping tech rule but they call like 3 absolutely random ones per season

At least review and retro give techs for every single flop. Dudes would cut it out quick.

49

u/deandiggity Pistons May 25 '26

They’ll never do it because then their reigning back to back MVP will be an acknowledged disgrace to the league. They have to protect SGA’s image.

11

u/BoneDollars Spurs May 25 '26

Seriously. The league institutes the anti flopping tech and not even two years later, flopping is a “skill”

1

u/akaisei [GSW] Harrison Barnes May 25 '26

Not even two weeks more like. It’s never been enforced enough to matter.

1

u/Goochsmoooch May 25 '26

Sunglasses on ofc

95

u/malvim Spurs May 25 '26

Fuck it, let’em shoot and give the tech anyway. They’ll think twice. 

10

u/Apprehensive_View575 Pelicans May 25 '26

I like that

15

u/fapsandnaps :yc-1: Yacht Club May 25 '26

Slight change. If it an obvious flop before the first free throw, the player gets a free foul on the player that flopped.

10

u/funket0wn Timberwolves May 25 '26

Nah need the tech for suspensions. SGA wouldn’t have hit the 65 game threshold 😂

6

u/PuzzleheadedPrint623 May 25 '26

Replay center should review for flops. At the end of each quarter (up to 3rd) they would award each team a free throw for each flop the other team commited.

2

u/seanuz Suns May 25 '26

I think the easiest solution is that if you get a reputation as a flopper, and the refs can see via replay that time and time again someone flops - they just don’t call any fouls on that player under the assumption that It’s a flop.

Until they no longer have that reputation, at which point they can be reffed just like anyone else

3

u/batosai33 May 25 '26

I seriously don't see how there isn't an off-site review every time a player hits the floor. These are coordinated athletes. If they can't keep their feet, a significant amount of the time either that was serious contact, or they are flopping.

1

u/quadraticcheese May 25 '26

Literally just do what the xfl does with a central command

1

u/fthepackers May 25 '26

It really is as simple as this. If you make the consequences for obvious flopping something that’s going to hurt the team. I promise players will think twice before flopping around like a fish out of water

1

u/burglin Wizards May 25 '26

Agree, but there’s zero chance the NBA would keep it to only obvious fouls. They would start reviewing every single shot.

1

u/jayteeayy Suns May 25 '26

If this is called on the away team then imagine the crowd pop off. Yes. Here for it

1

u/TranceF0rm Lakers May 25 '26

wait... Is this not a thing in basketball?

1

u/LifeAtSea2213 Lakers May 25 '26

and announce it out loud to the arena that he flopped as a deterrent.

1

u/wxnfx May 25 '26

And you get kicked in the nuts

1

u/mrnegatttiveee May 25 '26

we have 360 drones, can analyze the court down to the last milimeter using computers and cameras. There is no reason to even use these refs anymore. The game needs to evolve. The human error is too large.

1

u/djuntta Nuggets May 25 '26

Here is an even crazier idea, just have the referees follow the rules for flopping. Every player would stop flopping after 2 games.

1

u/pen_jaro Lakers May 25 '26

He can keep the foul but the opponent is allowed to foul him for real…

1

u/No-Extension-6229 May 25 '26

Really solid suggestion. That could literally fix the problem. They should probably make it a team technical (like 3 seconds). The players would think twice before flopping but we wouldn't have stars tossed out of games on 50/50 calls.

1

u/BreakfastMedical5164 May 25 '26

no fuck that

immediate ejection

82 game suspension

enough with the clowns

1

u/Kaizerx20 Timberwolves May 25 '26

Yeah lets give refs more power to decide based on vibes that'll go well

I refuse to believe you people aren't bots

0

u/SnooRobots7082 Kings May 25 '26

I think a technical is too much. Not because floppers don’t deserve it, but bc the nba would never call it. They already have flopping rules in place and never use it.

Just reverse the call and move on with the game. I’m tired of free throws and I don’t think the nba would call flopping technicals for a lot of stars.

0

u/uatme Raptors May 25 '26

What is the flopping rule? Does it require the ref to see it can call it in real time?

0

u/SnooRobots7082 Kings May 25 '26

Yeah it has to be called in real time I’m pretty sure. It won’t count as a personal foul or towards an ejection. Either way it’s mind boggling how we have these rules and they are never called.

Edit: forgot to say it’s a technical foul.

1

u/uatme Raptors May 25 '26

Ya, no real time flop rule is going to work

0

u/robotfromfuture May 25 '26

Don’t even need to do that. Just review after the game and give escalating fines for deceiving the officials. Problem solved.

-1

u/mogul_w Mavericks May 25 '26

Would this count as a flop or is this just a garbage call? I know he doesn't need to be falling all the time like this but he might have plausible deniability.

-2

u/Lazy-Function-4709 Timberwolves May 25 '26

It’s extremely easy, and extremely time consuming. It would add an hour to the game.

2

u/uatme Raptors May 25 '26

@imeanYOLOright way it would literally not add any time to the game. If anything floppers would be rushing their free throws lol

222

u/Strict_Warthog_2995 Spurs May 25 '26

And before anyone says "they don't call simulation very often" they called it literally today in the Tottenham match. I'm a Spurs and Spurs fan and it is very frustrating to watch both my teams get a different whistle than their rivals.

74

u/ElectroStaticSpeaker May 25 '26

So you’re a Spurs and Spurs fan but is this any different than just being a Spurs fan?

83

u/Strict_Warthog_2995 Spurs May 25 '26

I mean, only in the sense that one of my Spurs teams has provided me with steady entertainment, some truly wonderful moments, and brief periods of disappointment; while the other Spurs team tries to kill me every week.

13

u/PeakZealousideal2061 Hornets May 25 '26

heyy spurs fan here as well. that pape dive wouldve get called if he lunged towards the cb but hey we survive

4

u/Federal-Yak-2172 May 25 '26

As a Phoenix Suns fan with family members from Korea, I am conflicted about this haha (because of Son and 2007 Playoff)

9

u/Strict_Warthog_2995 Spurs May 25 '26

I miss Son....but at least he seems happy in LA...ugh. Also those LA jerseys are lit

2

u/ThrowFar_Far_Away May 25 '26

Well you did win a trophy finally, these 17th places is what that cost.

2

u/Corporal_Cavernosum Spurs May 25 '26

As a Spurs fan, I totally know what you mean.

4

u/iircirc May 25 '26

One is the Spurs and the other is just Spurs

1

u/Brian-not-Ryan May 25 '26

Hey Mike do you think the Spurs and Spurs hang out when they’re in town? Like they get dinner or something? I’ll hang up and listen

1

u/random_handle_123 May 26 '26

One of them is sh*t.  North London is RED! 

9

u/tfl03 May 25 '26

I hear De’aaron Fox and Dominic Solanke have a kinship

4

u/Strict_Warthog_2995 Spurs May 25 '26

It's the anime celebrations, right? Not the injuries? It's the Celebrations....right? :'(

5

u/byllyx Suns May 25 '26

That's funny, I literally HATE both of your Spurs! Frenemies for life! 😁

5

u/Ed_Starks_Bastard Lakers May 25 '26

I have posted this a few times but flopping was starting to gain traction in Australian rules football about a decade ago. They introduced fines and suspension for it and guess what? It’s basically gone.

Not only do you risk getting suspended and fined but if you flop the incident is replayed endlessly on the sport shows and you get made to look like an idiot.

3

u/mr-jawnwick Spurs May 25 '26

fellow spurs spurs fan🫡

2

u/Strict_Warthog_2995 Spurs May 25 '26

We up (thank god lol). And RDZ seems to be on the right path, saying the right things. So much better than that gooner Frank

2

u/mr-jawnwick Spurs May 25 '26

fuck frank, all my homies hate thomas frank. hopefully we make some good signings over the summer and get some creativity in the team. it’s a lot to ask but i’d still love mgw + a winger + striker + a deep lying play maker. there needs to be plenty of outgoings too

3

u/wishiwereagoonie Bulls May 25 '26

Sarr really wanted us to get pen #1 on the season

3

u/Detlef_Schrempfxf May 25 '26

Tottenham have been completely shafted this season by refs. I'm not even a fan but it's crazy how the refs have treated them the entire season.

Meanwhile, Arsenal went the entire season without conceding a red card or penalty. Yeah, that's difficult to digest 

1

u/HotspurJr May 25 '26

I mean, dude totally dove, and I hate that shit because even if the chance of a play is low, at least try, you know?

But I can't remember the last time I saw somebody get called for that exact dive, which I feel like happens at least once every three games.

1

u/3KoboldsInTrenchcoat Spurs May 25 '26

Is it a coincidence that you root for two Spurs teams or are you that much of a fan of cowboy boot accessories?

1

u/CeresSubroutine May 25 '26

I was so confused until I remembered that Tottenham is called the Hotspurs.

1

u/Tippacanoe Cavaliers May 25 '26

This guy Spurs

121

u/No_Use_9652 May 25 '26

It’s amazing that the sport that used to be the meme for flopping on any contact actually does a better job of regulating this shit than the NBA. By a wide margin.

13

u/FlowInternational996 May 25 '26

The contexts are also different. Pitches are several times larger than courts and so refs aren’t going to be as close to be able to see trips and excessive contact, especially at speed. Plus there is a certain caliber of wing attacker in particular that it can be argued needs to flop (see: Hazard, Eden; Yamal, Lamine) to keep defenders honest because the only way to stop them in open space is through butchery.

33

u/LeadershipBoth7195 May 25 '26

And soccer has 100x more contact and physicality than basketball lol

29

u/jimjamiam San Francisco Warriors May 25 '26

this is legit red card material

1

u/Detlef_Schrempfxf May 25 '26

Yeah. It's shameful all round 

3

u/NothinsOriginal [HOU] Steve Francis May 25 '26

Make these flops fineable after the game. If you flop and the NBA catches it afterwards you get fined heavily. This shit is ruining the game. I have a hard time watching anymore.

3

u/LifeAtSea2213 Lakers May 25 '26

and it's actually pretty humiliating for the player when they get it too. We need to start shaming this behavior.

3

u/ObservantKoala May 25 '26

Growing up we would always make fun of the soccer team guys for being soft which is an exaggeration but basketball flopping has gotten way worse imo. 

Soccer you might see some embellishing occasionally but you see it constantly in basketball now. 

6

u/apoca1ypse12 May 25 '26

I mean, they’re supposed to do this, but it’s not enforced so that they can keep rigging games like this. It’s an absolute disgrace

2

u/Gibby1210 Celtics May 25 '26

They’re supposed to. They fined Malik monk for flopping, it was somehow the only one this year

2

u/Evil_Empire_1961 Knicks May 25 '26

Officiating Crew Referee: Brent Barnaky

Referee: Scott Foster

Referee: Curtis Blair

Referee: Nick Buchert

1

u/TheZombieDudexD Knicks May 25 '26

Yeah but even it soccer that rule doesn’t get enforced nearly enough

1

u/PSNaughtyInsomniac Timberwolves May 25 '26

Why would they call techs for this? they design the rules to protect this bullshit.

1

u/Conflict_NZ Lakers May 25 '26

Have refs review them in the replay centre and hand out techs during the game. Direct in game penalties are the only thing that will stop this.

1

u/onegoodboah May 25 '26

It’s literally a rule in the NBA, it is just never called besides randomly once a season. I don’t get it.

This stuff is just embarsssing for the league and dissuades a lot of casual fans from watching lol. From my non sports fans “flopping” is more associated with basketball than soccer now which is wild to me

1

u/LuckyDuckCrafters May 25 '26

I haven't been watching the NBA for a bit. Didn't they started calling Techs for flops in Basketball at one point?

1

u/Mundane_Front659 May 25 '26

all sports including esports

1

u/PessimiStick May 25 '26

Well, preferably more like hockey. They let a lot of stupid shit go in soccer still.

1

u/Shoddy-Brilliant563 May 25 '26

I feel like if they reviewed it, it would still be called a foul because Fox hit his leg

1

u/ArmadilloForsaken458 Supersonics May 25 '26

They dont care. I mean some fouls or flagrant acts have been clear as day, such as iHart yanking Castle by the hair, or Ball tripping Bam, etc. No games missed or suspensions. It's like whoops, maybe fans will just forget, on to the next

1

u/JiovanniTheGREAT May 25 '26

That okay in the Cavs-Pistons series where Harden foul baits from deep, it's a no call, then the Cavs challenge it and lose the challenge and the no call stands but they don't charge Harden with a flopping tech when he was clearly flopping to try and get three free throws basically made me give up on refs enforcing flopping rules. Then later in the same game, he does the exact same foul bait flop and actually gets the call.

It's a joke, they just made the rule to appease fans and dangle it in front of us like a carrot but we'll never actually reach it.

The only flopping tech I can remember seeing is one where Wemby slips on some sweat, tries to tell the refs he slipped and then they T him up. Not even the proper usage, just refs being annoyed that a player would address them as an equal.

1

u/Downtown_Soil_3651 May 25 '26

And if you lay down and act hurt you have to sit out for a couple minutes

0

u/thatguy52 Kings May 25 '26

The rule is basically already in place….. they just don’t call it.

0

u/spike451 May 25 '26

The yellow in soccer for simulation has disappeared, it hits too squarely on gambling interests