Celtics guard Marcus Smart turned in a masterful performance for Boston in the team’s 102-99 Game 2 defeat of the Raptors to go up 2-0 in the team’s second-round playoff series. Smart connected on five three-pointers in the game’s fourth quarter alone to help seal the victory.
Unfortunately, his energetic play appears to have also hurt his wallet — the NBA has fined Smart $5,000 for flopping during the game, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (Twitter link). Smart’s egregious flop came during the third quarter in an effort to draw an offensive foul on Raptors All-Star forward Pascal Siakam.
The defensive-minded Smart, who scored 19 points and went 6-of-11 from long range overall, has been an imperative role player for Boston, currently 6-0 in the 2020 playoffs after sweeping the Sixers in the first round.
Smart joined the Celtics’ starting lineup after forward Gordon Hayward incurred a Grade III right ankle sprain in Game 1 of the team’s Sixers series. Hayward is expected to be sidelined for at least a couple more weeks of game play.
Which play did he flop？
click the link
El Oh El.
This guy flops a lot.
So does Chris Paul. Why don’t they ever fine him for it?
The NBA always errors on the side of caution for its big names at the expense of the other teams. It’s the only league where the ref’s can make or break a series without reproach from the league. It’s not always the case, but 9 times out of ten, the Lebron’s Giannis’s, Westbrook’s and Paul’s of the league can charge and not get called for it. It’s a star centric league.
Only sport really? Refs stole the 1995 world series for Atlanta. Maybe since, but I quit following baseball afterwards.
I would not include when some players simply follow the rules better than others (Paul) or doesnt get calls because he’s too solid to show body contact (James) or is insanely more athletic and already past the defense (Westbrook). Giannis, maybe so
Lol at you criticizing Chris Paul’s flopping only after being traded from the Rockets.
Lol at everyone loving him after being traded from Houston.
Everyone? Loving? I just posted CP could be traded now. OKC had a need and he filled it, but a 3-PG attack is pretty crowded and they could use a 4. Like Jerami Grant though Bazley may be an upgrade soon. Anyway CP’s a good problem now IMO.
This was not a mere flop, this was the flop of all flops. And Smart does it once and again (ask James Harden…). The NBA needs to stop this, but unfortunately a 5K fine will have little to no effect.
I bet he happily pays that fine for the W. He’s an intelligent. Ferocious defender who always does what needs to be done to win. There isn’t anyone who legitimately would say they wouldn’t take him on their team, even if they hate him from afar for his style.
$5 million isn’t enough
Be realistic
They took Sir Flopsalot’s lunch money away for a week? Such merciless overlords these guys are! He will get that money back when he flops in front of some exec’s car to feign injury. There’s always a sap somewhere he can grift.
$5,000 is nothing, especially for something that egregious in a playoff game. Smart’s salary is something like $12.5 million. It’s the proportional equivalent of fining someone who makes $50,000 a year $20.