Playoff Gimmicks

One thing I love about the postseason is that it never fails to give us a great side-show, story lines in that matter. It could be about bitter rivals slugging it out once again, a bad run during the postseason a year ago---redemption, a flop, or it's just a great match-up marketing-wise. 

The reason why I'm not a big fan about watching the Playoffs in the PBA is that oftentimes, these plots are too predictable. You have this feeling that something bad is bound to happen. Example, when a team goes up 1-0 or 2-1 in a series, it is expected that the other team will even the series out. It happens because teams and corporations want to maximize this marketing opportunity wherein 10,000+ people are watching in the stands while thousands more on their television sets. They do this to get their brand out more---to reach out. This is just my opinion. Possibly the truth but maybe far from it. 

Observe how the referees will call the game during games such as those. They usually call it in favor of the team catching up in the hopes that their whistles could potentially give them the highly coveted W. The disparity in fouls and free throw attempts are glaring and obvious even leading to the coaches  to constantly complain about the officiating. And yes, they do get fined. 

Note, how many Game 7s have there been for the past several years? Food for thought. 

Exhibit A: Pamboy Raymundo's Sneaky Elbow and Batok 

Exhibit B: Coach Tim Cone accidentally gets 'tripped' by the official

I'm not saying these events were purposely done for the said reasons above. We can infer that these were brought about by the intensity and the emotion of the moment; the entire series in particular. You be the judge of things. Pick your side of the story. 

Though these are the very things that make us enjoy the postseason. Close games and tight match-ups give us, the fans, an exhilarating and exciting feeling. It makes us anxious for the next game. It occasionally even gives us the goosebumps on who will come out on top after each game. 

All I'm saying is that can we let these match-ups run their course. If a team should sweep a certain team, let it happen. Let us not affect the course or the outcome of the game. Bilog nga ang bola... so let the players decide who really should be the victor. 

Notes: Pamboy Raymundo should be suspended... The official didn't purposely trip Coach Tim though we have to give props to him for an excellent fall... I'm not a big fan of Talk N' Text so BMEG in 7. 

The Art of Flopping

I'm not much of a flopper. I just love the physicality and the contact the game Basketball has to offer. Absorbing or initiating contact has that indescribable feeling of satisfaction; joy that a basket cannot bring. You feel the sense of dominance and power when you are able to inflict pain to your opponent. Unless of course your the one who got hurt.  

To those who don't know what flopping is, flopping is the art of acting in the hopes of selling a call towards the referees. You make something small a bit more obvious. Example, when someone nudges you on your way to the basket, you try to make it appear more obvious by going out of control and landing hard to the ground. By doing so, your making sure that the referee has no choice to call the foul unless of course he wants to be shouted and cursed upon by displeased onlookers. 

Flopping literally is something that gets on people's nerves. If you softly bump a player and he goes out of control and the referee calls a foul, you'd be going out of control. You'd be complaining and in a state of disbelief on how a simple nudge can make a player tumble around the court. 

Some of the more famous actors in the industry would be Manu Ginobili, Derek Fisher, among many others. There are many notable floppers  acting their way to winning the Oscar for Best Actor aside from extra opportunities at the foul line or getting the calls they want. Players lierally roll on the floor, twist, tumble, and turn. I even had a teammate who once punched himself just to get a call. Guess what, IT WORKED! As surprised as we may seem, flopping does work. It gets the attention of the referees and puts them in no other position but to blow their whistles. I guess we all have to go to acting school and work out on our basic theatrical skills. 

The Art of Flopping has a sense of timing into it. You must accurately and precisely time when your going to fall or cover your face to get the referee's attention. You can't just flop for the sake of flopping. Seriously, you'd look like a retard. 

I guess the video speaks for itself. UGLY FLOP. Gotta have that Dual Core of his upgraded. Note, it's QUAD CORE NOW.