Anderson Varejao Claims He Doesn't Flop...Anymore

The NBA has made it a goal to cut down on the theatrics during games this year. That is to say, they wanted to curtail this supposed flopping epidemic. How will they do this, you ask? By simply reviewing the tape after games and fining players that they suspect of exaggerating contact or lack thereof.

It is my personal opinion that this flopping problem isn't really that much of a problem. I think we just have become more focused on it because of the numerous slow-motion replays that make contact and falls look pretty ridiculous. Nevertheless, people were concerned about how these new rules would impact the Wild Thing, Anderson Varejao. Over the years, Andy has built a reputation as someone who throws his body around, draws charges, and flops around to get under his opponents' skin. Usually, it works. This new initiative may impact his ability to play like this, but Andy isn't worried, he told Bob Finnan of The News-Herald.

"If you look at me in the last two years, I'm not flopping anymore," he said. "I used to flop a little bit."

Honestly, this is mostly true. Of course he still does flop a little bit, but that's more just his overall style of play. As Varejao has matured as a basketball player (and specifically a defender), he's become much more fundamentally sound and no longer relies on flopping to get calls. There is, in fact, a difference between flopping and drawing a charge in the NBA.

"It could be a good thing," Varejao said. "Let's see how it works out. The refs aren't going to see everything."

As far as his health goes, Varejao is completely healthy after fracturing his wrist last season. He had a productive run in the playoffs for his home country of Brazil and hopes to stay healthy for the whole season this time around. But that doesn't mean he'll tone down his energy.

"There's nothing you can do to prevent it," he said. "I'm not going to change anything. I'm going to keep playing the same way."

Varejao also seemed to dismiss the notion that a potential trade would distract him from the task at hand. He's obviously been involved in trade rumors for the past couple of seasons, but he's more focused on the present.

"I'm still here," he said at Cavs media day on Monday at Cleveland Clinic Courts. "I can't control that. If they trade me, they trade me....I'm happy in Cleveland. I love the city and I love the fans."