ORLANDO, Fla. - First, Shaquille O'Neal. Now, Ben Wallace.
For the second time this season, Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy has accused one of the NBA's biggest, baddest players of flopping.
On Monday, Van Gundy said he was bothered by the number of times Wallace and Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Mo Williams dropped to the floor in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference final against the Magic.
He said the pair ''fell down more than a baby learning to walk.''
Wallace, a four-time defensive player of the year and one of the league's most intimidating players, took offence to Van Gundy's remarks.
Speaking at a shootaround Tuesday, suggested that Van Gundy ''come out here and do something about it'' or shut up, adding an expletive for emphasis. ''Whatever he says isn't going to change the way I play defence or the way we play defence. It is what it is.''
Van Gundy made the same claims about O'Neal in March, saying he flopped while guarding Magic centre Dwight Howard. O'Neal played for Van Gundy in Miami for parts of two seasons.
Williams said he was unaware of Van Gundy's comments.
''That's what he said?'' Wallace asked before deciding not to escalate the feud. ''OK. I play basketball. I don't talk to coaches. That doesn't help us win any basketball games.''
