Danny Ainge On Flopping: Acting Is Part Of The Game
BOSTON (CBS) -- Danny Ainge was recently ranked the fourth biggest flopper in NBA history, a designation the Celtics president does not agree with.
While he agrees that embellishing contact can get out of control, Ainge told 98.5 The Sports Hub's Toucher & Rich on Thursday that it's part of the game and something the best players often utilize.
"First of all I don't agree with that list. Second, it is a compliment, I think, to be on that list. I think that you need to act and you need to draw attention to the contact the other team is giving you. If you are getting screened and draw attention to an illegal screen, then you're doing your job by getting that call. If you don't draw attention to it, you're going to get illegally screened over and over again," said Ainge.
"Acting is part of the game. Sometimes it gets out of hand, and that's why the league implemented the rule of fining guys for flopping for no reason. At the same time, if you look at LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, they were amazing at drawing attention. Chris Paul and James Harden are two of the best in the game now at drawing attention," he added. "I think it's a skill."
Ainge wouldn't say how often he embellished during his playing days, but said that the team has discussed flopping with Marcus Smart, whose reputation for embellishing has caught up with him recently.
"There is a lot more scrutiny on players and their style of play. Officials are more aware. Come playoff time you see a lot less of it. Officials are really aware of their reputation and their style of play; how they try to draw fouls," he said. "We have, and will continue to talk to Marcus. He is a very young player and good at drawing attention to illegal contact. But like everyone who does a good job at that you do get caught embellishing."
The Celtics will welcome the Sacramento Kings to town on Friday night, the only visit for All-Star DeMarcus Cousins. That is, of course, unless the Celtics work out a trade for the All Star center. Ainge said his phone has been ringing, but the trading season is still a few weeks away from getting really interesting.
"This is not the time of year where there is a lot of activity. From the middle of December to the middle of February is when it really heats up," said Ainge. "There is a lot of talk that goes nowhere and there is sometimes groundwork that leads to something. Teams are still trying to figure out what they are, where they're heading and what mix works. I think that December 15 is a date where players who signed in the offseaon are now eligible to be traded. Some are on January 15. The deadline is the middle of February, so that is usually when a lot of the discussion happens."
Ainge also touched on Wednesday's loss to the Pistons, whether or not the Celtics are taking too many three pointers, and J.R. Smith's antics with Jason Terry:
