LeBron James has received criticism during the 2013 NBA Playoffs for what some would consider "flopping" during physical plays. Although James denies he's a flopper, the Miami Heat start openly recognizes it as an effective strategy.
"Some guys have been doing it for years, just trying to get an advantage," James told ESPN Monday in the lead-up to Tuesday's Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals. "Any way you can get an advantage over the opponent to help your team win, so be it."
That position illustrates a friction that's grown over the past two seasons between James' Heat and their current opponent, the Indiana Pacers. It's fair to say the teams have different views on flopping. One side thinks it's an art and the other a menace.
The Pacers, who trail the Heat 2-1 in the best-of-seven series, have routinely complained about the Heat's flopping, mostly to referees during games. Before a playoff series between the teams last season, Pacers coach Frank Vogel was fined $15,000 by the NBA for complaining that officials let the Heat players get away with flopping.
"I think it's well documented. I'm not for flopping," Vogel said.
In the last round of the playoffs, Chicago Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau accused James of flopping. James shot back at the comments, saying, "I don't need to flop. I play an aggressive game. I don't flop. I've never been one of those guys."
The accusations against Miami, however, have continued in their series against the Pacers.
"People flop all the time," Pacers center Roy Hibbert said. "It's sad to say ... not just against the Heat, throughout the whole season."
During Game 3 on Sunday, Dwayne Wade appeared to be caught exaggerating contact from the Pacers' Ian Mahinmi when he fell out of bounds after Mahinmi put a hand on Wade's back. Officials did not call a foul on the play, but the clip of the move spread on the Internet as one of the more egregious cases of the maneuver seen in the postseason.
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