Flopping in my opinion is never an attempt on their part to absorb contact and I don't believe that the motion of flopping is an attempt to maintain LGP either. I am not asking the defender to "stand in there like a man", but do not flop. And if there is no contact better get ready for a T.
Here is why I don't feel the defender is maintaining LGP. If a defender in LGP, were then to lean their shoulder out (beyond their normal frame) into a dribbler's path and there is contact, you have a block. I think of this as similar.
To use the idea of the defender turning around, that is totally different. This player is flopping and it is frowned on by the rules.