NBA fines 3 for flopping

NEW YORK—Miami’s LeBron James and Indiana’s David West and Lance Stephenson were all fined $5,000 by the NBA on Thursday for violating the league’s anti-flopping policy.

James and West were penalized for the same play during a messy Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals. James spun and fell and West tumbled toward the baseline during what looked like a poorly choreographed dance routine as the NBA’s MVP defended the Indiana forward.

Stephenson was fined for exaggerating the contact after a slight elbow from Ray Allen following his basket, staggering back toward the sideline after making a short jumper.

The NBA began fining players this year for the act of trying to fool refer- ees into calling fouls when there had been limited contact.

The Pacers’ 99-92 victory on Tuesday was filled with such plays and marked by a combined 55 personal fouls.

Steve Kerr, the five-time NBA champion working the game as a TV analyst, said flopping has “been apparent throughout the series but I think it got worse” during Game 4. The league acted hours before Game 5 at Miami.

Kerr said flopping was “unbecoming of star players.”

“To me, flopping is sort of the territory of guys who are just trying to hang onto their position in the league and they have to find their way to be successful and productive somehow,” he said in a phone interview before the penalties were announced. (AP)