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There were three flopping fouls called in a 1 minute and 30 second-span in the fourth quarter of the Trail Blazers’ 136-129 win over the Lakers on Tuesday.
Toumani Camara picked up a flopping foul with 5:06 left, followed by Ja Morant getting assessed one with 3:49 remaining. Ziaire Williams picked up another flopping foul with 3:36 left.
Trail Blazers coach Micah Nori pointed out that the NBA is seemingly cracking down on flopping fouls this season.
“It was great,” Nori said. “There were 27 flops called last year in the NBA in 2,000 basically games total. And [three] of them were called tonight. Good job by the NBA, point of emphasis, great job.”
The players felt differently, especially considering ahead of the 2023-2024 season the NBA began fining players $2,000 for flopping violations.
This was Williams’ second straight game getting assessed a flopping foul after also picking one up in the Lakers’ come-from-behind win over the Jazz on Sunday.
Williams said he didn’t believe he deserved a flopping foul on Tuesday.
“If the dude is pushing off me and my body is naturally going waver back, so, I don’t know, I didn’t think I flopped,” said Williams, who had 11 points, two rebounds, four assists and two steals.
Morant also protested the foul.
“I just showed my hands and took a bump in my chest,” said Morant, who had 23 points on 9-for-13 shooting and four assists. “It ain’t like I fell. I just kept going backwards. It is what it is. I’ll try to appeal it.”
Williams addressed his first flopping foul at Tuesday’s shootaround before the Lakers played the Trail Blazers.
“Do I agree with it? Williams asked. “Not necessarily but I mean it’s the league’s rule, so whatever they say that’s how it goes. I’ll pay my fine. And if I got to flop again to get a win, then that’s what I’ll do. So, I thought I thought it was a good defensive play. But like I said, it is what it is. Sent it to my agent, hopefully we can appeal it and get my money back. But if not, then it is what it is.”
