MINNEAPOLIS -- One night after three consecutive flopping technicals were whistled in the game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Portland Trail Blazers, two NBA coaches expressed a desire for the league to alter the way it officiates its new rule of emphasis.
"Where they got it wrong is that all these flops they're calling are on the defense," Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said. "That's not what the people want out of the game. They want the flops on the offense out of the game."
Portland Trail Blazers guard Ja Morant and wing Toumani Camara and Los Angeles Lakers wing Ziaire Williams were called for flopping technicals in the final six minutes of the Blazers' eventual 136-129 win.
All three were penalized while on the defensive end, embellishing contact while either trying to stay in front of the basketball or impede the path of a cutter.
"[Fans] don't care if a defender spills down and shouts," Finch said. "They care if an offensive player is baiting the game and falling down and getting unnecessary free throws. That's what they care about. Because that's not what anyone wants to tune in and watch."
Finch has long been an outspoken critic of flopping, dating back to his pointed critiques of the free throws awarded to Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or the way Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray was officiated in Minnesota's first-round series last April.
Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr has also periodically criticized the offensive "tricks" he believes star scorers use to pile up free throw attempts. Before Wednesday night's game against Finch's Timberwolves, he reiterated his stance.
"You know my take on the NBA," Kerr said. "We should be the No Bulls--- Association. That's another way to say it. Every bit of bulls--- that a player tries to pull, we should say, 'No, no, we're not doing that.' It's a better game when guys aren't flopping, guys aren't grabbing and hooking each other or running into screens and looking like they got hit by a car."
The Warriors were called for six illegal screens in last Friday night's loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, including a crucial call on Draymond Green on the deciding possession. Afterward, an upset Kerr said the Grizzlies were flopping on "every single one."
On Wednesday, he said the Warriors had sent clips to the league and asked for clarity on what constitutes an illegal screen and what will be considered a flop.
"Everyone is trying to figure out what's a flop and what's not," Kerr said. "The league made it a point of emphasis, but it seems to only be on certain actions."
Only 27 flopping technicals were called last season.
"It's just a better game when officials have the ability to say, 'No, we are not buying into that,'" Kerr said. "I feel like constantly as a league we are behind the players. The players are grifting and we're chasing them and we're never getting ahead of it. That's my biggest issue."