We are so back, folks. Flopping is already tearing the league apart. It’s fantastic.
The NBA refs Twitter account essentially issued an apology to Knicks fans today for calling a flop on Jalen Brunson against the Celtics on opening night at MSG.
Brunson shot a 3-pointer late in the game that was contested by Jayson Tatum. Tatum closed out on Brunson and got into his landing space, which knocked Brunson down. Usually, that’s called a foul. And, occasionally, officials will check to see if it’s a flagrant foul.
This time, it was a flop. Yes. That’s right. A FLOP. Take a look.
This was a technical on Jalen Brunson… sorry?? pic.twitter.com/eWnwAIUBdQ
— Teg🚨 (@IQfor3) October 26, 2023
Officials ruled this reaction from Brunson as “secondary and theatrical,” which is new. It’s part of the league’s new policy cracking down on flops.
So instead of the Knicks getting three free throws in the late moments of a three point game, the Celtics got to shoot a technical free throw and got the ball back.
That call was just so clearly wrong. It was so wrong that the refs apologized for it the next day. The NBA Refs account posted this about the play.
We missed the foot to foot contact which should have resulted in a personal foul and reviewed for flagrant. Had no foot to foot contact existed, this type of secondary and theatrical movement by Brunson would meet the criteria for a non-unsportsmanlike technical foul for… https://t.co/aPZJiARfiS
— NBA Referees (@OfficialNBARefs) October 26, 2023
“Had no foot to foot contact existed, this type of secondary and theatrical movement by Brunson would meet the criteria for a non-unsportsmanlike technical foul for flopping. It is possible to have a foul and a flop on the same play, but the foot to foot contact is what causes Brunson’s movement and no flop should have been called.”
Translation: Whoops! Our bad, y’all.
This play didn’t exactly lose the Knicks the game. But, uh, it kind of lost them the game. So, of course, fans didn’t want to hear any of it.
“This was a 4pt swing in a 4pt loss but our b” https://t.co/5EhUAe0lWS
— Npha (@DJNphared) October 26, 2023
How does one miss the “foot to foot” when it has become increasingly important over the past decade. This resulted in a Technical Foul for Brunson and the Knicks. All time bad call. https://t.co/Cz8uNZJCFi
— Tone (@i30ss) October 26, 2023
The flopping calls are going to be an epic disaster this season. https://t.co/h2Y0TTofb8
— Max Lederman (@Max_Lederman) October 26, 2023
— Chris Wooden (@slowdumars) October 26, 2023
“had the thing that caused brunson to fall like that NOT happened, then we would’ve been right.” lmfao what a terrible response https://t.co/wUPG1EGpva
— Brian Gonzales (@briangonzaless) October 26, 2023
This mistake that was made took 4 points away from us in a 4 point loss, but hey thanks for the review after it doesn’t matter anymore…. https://t.co/T5MseVU8CQ
— Hadukie (@RB9GotNext) October 26, 2023
NBA Refs: https://t.co/hhHVTIUaB4 pic.twitter.com/qjjZgzdMCv
— Bobson Dugnutt (@AdonisQEinstein) October 26, 2023
4 point swing in a 4 point loss…. awesome https://t.co/PLSDFfjAaU
— Andrew Claudio (@AndrewJClaudio_) October 26, 2023
To me, though, the only appropriate response is this.
We are so f’ing back https://t.co/Jf1CFQrInX
— Oluwajomiloju (@JomiAdeniran) October 26, 2023
Listen, man. Flopping destroying the official’s brains? Knicks fans constantly complaining? Jayson Tatum getting away with things yet also complaining to the officials every change he gets? It might as well be mid-December, fam.
The NBA is back, folks. I love it here.
