Pelican Guard Labels Marcus Smart and Patrick Beverley as the Worst Floppers In NBA

Many players in the league get criticized for flopping, and according to Pelicans veteran JJ Redick, Marcus Smart and Patrick Beverley are the worst.

In the 2012-2013 season, the NBA introduced the Anti-Flopping rule. It was implemented to curb the unsportsmanlike practice known as “flopping,” which is an attempt to draw a foul with minimum or, at times, no contact at all from the opposing player. It gets frowned upon due to the unsportsmanlike conduct and time wasting.

He said, “The obvious ones that stick out are like Marcus Smart and Pat Beverley. I feel like Kyle (Lowry) to a degree, maybe, is good at exaggerating contact.”

Redick also spoke against the popular notion that James Harden is a flopper. “I think Harden is good at exaggerating contact. But, to me, it’s not necessarily flopping, it’s more of a skill because oftentimes, like, there’s the really egregious flops or the really egregious calls for, a player like Harden where you look at on tape and are like ‘Man, that really wasn’t a foul.’”

Smart has been notoriously pulling off such flops in the Playoffs too. Against the Raptors, he had one of the worst flops in this season’s playoffs. And then again in Game 1 against the Heat, he was back at it.

Marcus Smart and the Celtics looking to make a comeback

The Celtics are back in the Conference Finals after 2018. But they are two defeats away from crashing out. After losing their first two games, the Celtics fought back to get a win and are still in the hunt to advance.

Smart has been key for the Celtics with his defense and his hustle. He stepped up big time, especially during Gordon Hayward’s absence when the former All-Star was out with an injury. So far he is averaging 14.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game.

The Celtics are down but not out yet. Hayward’s arrival will boost them and they will look to bank on the momentum from the Game 3 win. They have a young and hungry team, but their bench is weak and this depth can get exposed against the Heat.

They last appeared in the NBA Finals back in 2010 when the ended up losing to the Lakers. And this wait could be prolonged if they don’t improve their performance in the upcoming games.