Pacers' Roy Hibbert, Lance Stephenson Fined By NBA For Flopping
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – The NBA announced on Thursday that Indiana Pacers' Lance Stephenson and Roy Hibbert have been fined $10,000 and $5,000, respectively, for violating the NBA's anti-flopping rules during Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Stephenson's flop came with 8:23 remaining in the fourth quarter of the Pacers 93-90 win over the Heat. As Indiana pushed the ball up the court on offense, LeBron James brushed up against Stephenson as he ran by the Pacers guard. Stephenson then acted as though someone had shoved him violently to the ground, throwing his arms in the air and falling down backwards.
This was the second time during the Eastern Conference Finals that Stephenson has violated the league's anti-flopping rules which is why his fine amount was doubled from the first occurrence. Both of Stephenson's flops have been while trying to bait officials into calling a foul on James.
As for Hibbert, his flop also came during the fourth quarter with about 5:18 to go. Following a missed layup by Stephenson, Hibbert was underneath the basket trying to get the rebound. Heat guard Mario Chalmers, who is 6-2 and weighs 190 pounds, was behind Hibbert and put his forearm on the back of the Pacers' 7-2, 290 pound center.
Hibbert paused briefly before leaping in the air and flailing his arms, attempting to make it look as though Chalmers had shoved him out of bounds. Both flops were quite unconvincing, and while the game officials ignored both plays the NBA did not.
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