Let's Talk About The "Hack-a-Shaq" Strategy

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: Let's Talk About The "Hack-a-Shaq" Strategy

That's regular season where it's 82 games long and maybe 1/4 of them don't mean anything and for some teams it's all of their games. Not to mention, you got plenty of other options to watch(not being a smart*** but just putting that out there as an aside to my point).

Playoff Basketball on the other hand, where this is always gets the most attention every year, you'll watch those games and just accept it as a necessary evil. Just like in the NFL where we've adjusted to defenders not being able to put a hand on WRs or touching QBs, etc.

And ALL Sports at their core(in a perfect world of course)are supposed to be free flowing with little breaks in them. But this strategy isn't stopping games or making them come to a complete halt in play(cough ****ty officiating cough).

It's not that I'm against changing the rules because I'm always open for change if it looks like one team is gaining an unfair advantage over others or not having teams on a level playing field but in this case, it's not. It's moreso "Hey, I can't watch these games anymore because it's completely stopping me from being able to enjoy the games even though they always occur when the game is already over".

Good discussion here, BTW.

[Streets]

Re: Let's Talk About The "Hack-a-Shaq" Strategy

That's regular season where it's 82 games long and maybe 1/4 of them don't mean anything and for some teams it's all of their games. Not to mention, you got plenty of other options to watch(not being a smart*** but just putting that out there as an aside to my point).

Playoff Basketball on the other hand, where this is always gets the most attention every year, you'll watch those games and just accept it as a necessary evil. Just like in the NFL where we've adjusted to defenders not being able to put a hand on WRs or touching QBs, etc.

And ALL Sports at their core(in a perfect world of course)are supposed to be free flowing with little breaks in them. But this strategy isn't stopping games or making them come to a complete halt in play(cough ****ty officiating cough).

It's not that I'm against changing the rules because I'm always open for change if it looks like one team is gaining an unfair advantage over others or not having teams on a level playing field but in this case, it's not. It's moreso "Hey, I can't watch these games anymore because it's completely stopping me from being able to enjoy the games even though they always occur when the game is already over".

Good discussion here, BTW.

This would hold more weight if it ONLY happened when the game is out of reach in the last couple of minutes. In the Dallas/Houston series for example, Carlisle was pulling it out in quarter #1.

Unless I'm misreading you, the strategy you're referring to (intentionally fouling to try and stop the clock) will happen regardless of if they change the rules or not, you just have to foul the guy holding the ball instead of wrapping up the worst FT shooter on the floor. The last two minutes of games will play out exactly as they do now (where that foul results in two and the ball). Really, the only difference will be the hack-a strategies that happen prior to that point when the game is very much winnable for either team (say... the first quarter).

And as diehard fans who come on message boards to post about NBA rules, of course we're not flipping off games due to hack-a, but you're talking about throwing out the baby with the bath water. The NBA is a great, exciting product. Could it be more exciting? Could games run more smoothly? That's what Silver and the owners are going to discuss.

It's sort of like the new replay center, or delay of game warnings being emphasized (ironically both used to speed up the game, but I believe have slowed it down). Were these changes necessary? Not really. The game was "fine, fun, exciting, etc. without them" and will be after them. If they add this tweak to the rules, teams will adjust and show will go on.

As far as advantages or whatever, I don't think the owners and commish are thinking about that as much as they're trying to find ways to make the product on the court more enjoyable, even if it's something as small as giving a tech to a player who touches the ball after they dunk it.

DALLAS -- NBA commissioner Adam Silver told ESPN.com that he expects the league to have "full-throated conversations" this summer about potentially implementing rules to eliminate the Hack-a-Shaq strategy from the game.

Silver acknowledged the strategy of intentionally fouling poor free throw shooters -- which originally started against retired superstar center Shaquille O'Neal -- is not enjoyable to watch. However, he expressed the need for caution when considering changing the rules of the game.

"It's something that I'm on the fence about," Silver told ESPN.com minutes before tipoff of Friday night's Game 3 in the Dallas Mavericks-Houston Rockets series. "My thought used to be that we should definitely change the rule, and then having sat through several general managers meetings, competition meetings and having heard from some of the game's very best, the view is the players should hit their free throws. That's changed my view a little bit.
Adam Silver explained the NBA is not apt to change rules while acknowledging that the Hack-a-Shaq strategy is "going to be a hot topic of discussion" at upcoming league meetings.

"Having said that, when I watch some of these games on television, frankly, it's not great entertainment for our fans, and that's important as well. What I've said is we have another general managers meeting coming up in May, we have a competition committee meeting in June, and I'm sure it's going to be a hot topic of discussion. Then, we have an owners meeting in July, so I think at all three of those meetings we're going to be having full-throated conversations about what the right rules should be going forward."

Silver, who replaced the retired David Stern as commissioner in February 2014, acknowledged that the discussion is "in part" about weighing the value of entertainment and strategy.

It's been a talking point during the playoffs, with the San Antonio Spurs sending the Los Angeles Clippers' DeAndre Jordan to the foul line 17 times in a playoff victory earlier this week.

"I really don't know. I think we're clearly going to look at it, and even though I have D.J. [Jordan], I still go back and forth on it," Clippers coach Doc Rivers told reporters before Friday night's Game 3 against the Spurs. "I was put on the committee to look at what's good for the league, not our team, and it's still a tough one for me even though it's obvious for everyone. Every ref, every game it starts, he [Jordan] looks over at me and says, 'You guys have to stop this.'"

Rivers' conflicted opinion of the strategy mirrored Silver's.

"It's a tough one for me. I go back and forth on it because I look at the other side as if you make it, they won't do it," Rivers said. "That's too simple, I think, and I think fans watching it, I don't think it's that enjoyable to watch and we're all waiting for the game where a team has one [poor free throw shooter] on each team and the coaches go back and forth and do it. The game is going to last forever, No. 1, and it would be ugly to watch, so that's my answer."

Silver reiterated his awareness and responsibility of the balance between protecting how the game is played and creating a compelling product.

"But at the end of the day, it's about the game," Silver said. "I used to run something called NBA Entertainment, but I always remind myself in my job now as commissioner and managing the league office, it's the game above all. So I think we have to [determine] what makes the most sense for the game.

"That's why I'm sensitive about guys being able to make their free throws, and I also find that sometimes it's a fascinating strategy," Silver said. "We're very conservative when it comes to changing the rules of the game. That's why changing the rules of the game requires more than the majority of the owners; it requires a super majority. So we've got to be very careful, but it is something that we're looking at closely."

LeBron James weighed in on the issue Saturday, saying he doesn't mind the strategy.

"I don't mind it," he said. "I mean, it's part of the game. If it's something that's part of the game and it's part of the game plan, then go for it."

James' coach, David Blatt, disagreed with the Cavaliers' superstar's take.

"I think [the strategy] is more than unsavory, to be honest with you," Blatt said. "I really think that's something that needs to be revisited and changed."

Great points on both sides. If they keep it, I'd be fine with it and understand it is to keep the integrity of the game. If they change it, I'd be fine with it and understand it's about a more enjoyable product *see everything above: all the points for removing it are "it's not fun to watch"). I see both sides.

[Brandon13]

Re: Let's Talk About The "Hack-a-Shaq" Strategy

I would like to see the rule modified in some way.

[Smallville102001]

Re: Let's Talk About The "Hack-a-Shaq" Strategy

This is a tuff one for me. I saw how a lot of people in hear have been talking about how guys just need to be able to make free throws but the truth is a lot of big guys have trouble shooting free throws because of how big there hands are and that is nothing new. Yeah there are some big guys that can shoot free throws but most are not that good. I do think it is funny that guys who are way more skilled then me over all are way worse free throw shootings then me as I can make like 75% of my free throws. The odd thing was when I was younger I was a much better over all shooter and player but I couldn't make free throws. Now I am a much better free throw shooter but my over all game and shooting is worse lol. I also think its pathetic that guys cant bunt in MLB as that is by far the easiest thing to do in baseball. I just think there are some things that no matter how much you practice you are not going to get better at. Ever one I believe has a max skill. Yes you can practice a lot but you have to be born with skill. Look at a guy like Oneal back in his days he would shoot like 10 free throws a game and make like 5. Say he even improves by 10% that would be 1 more point a game. Do you really think he didn't try to get better?

[Smallville102001]

Re: Let's Talk About The "Hack-a-Shaq" Strategy

I also have to added I don't really now how you would go about this in less you just make it where any foul away from the ball that is not an accident would be free throws by any player. I also have 2 other things that drive me way more nuts then this. 1. flagrant fouls- The NBA like a lot of sports has tried to make it more of a offensive game by changing some of the rules like no hand checking. Now with the way flagrant fouls are called its basically impossible to foul a guy to keep him from score as any foul that may be hard enough to keep a player from getting a easy layup or dunk because any foul like that has a changes to be called a flagrant and they are to inconsistent with the calls to. A player can get fouled really hard and they don't call it then a guy can get a foul that is like 1/5 as hard and they call it. Really if they called them like they should they would almost never get called yet they get call pretty often. What should be a flagrant 1 is normaly going to be called a flagrant 2 because of this. 2. clear path foul- I hate this rule because again it kind of goes towards number 1 and just the NBA trying to make is easier to score.

[jeebs9]

Re: Let's Talk About The "Hack-a-Shaq" Strategy

I love ow guys are saying make your damn free throws. But you can't tell me you like watching that stuff. I remember a game where I watched it happen for 10 minutes because they couldn't stop their run.

[SteelersFreak]

Let's Talk About The "Hack-a-Shaq" Strategy

If intentional fouling runs the "entertainment value" of basketball then maybe basketball isn't the sport for you.

Plus, if you don't think NBA coaching staffs will find ways around the new rules, you're crazy.

[JODYE]

Re: Let's Talk About The "Hack-a-Shaq" Strategy

Wwharton already made a fantastic post about this whole situation, so I'll keep it short.

I'm in the "make your free throws" boat, 100%.

I find it completely inexcusable, regardless of hand size, that you can have professional basketball players shoot less than 50% from the line. Stop amending the game and making rules for players that suck or can't adapt or don't want to work to get better. This is your job, get better at it.

[ojandpizza]

Re: Let's Talk About The "Hack-a-Shaq" Strategy

So a guy ran up and grabbed Josh last night and he pushed him off of him and got a T..

Again I'm team "make your free throws" all the way. But there is still something odd about a guy being able to just run up and grab a random player, since any other foul has to be a play on the ball or any reaction is a tech..




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[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: Let's Talk About The "Hack-a-Shaq" Strategy

No different than a DB randomly grabbing a WR when he gets beat, especially if it's a short yardage route(4-5 yd range).

[King_B_Mack]

Re: Let's Talk About The "Hack-a-Shaq" Strategy

So a guy ran up and grabbed Josh last night and he pushed him off of him and got a T..

Again I'm team "make your free throws" all the way. But there is still something odd about a guy being able to just run up and grab a random player, since any other foul has to be a play on the ball or any reaction is a tech..




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This is not true at all. Fouls get called away from the ball all the time. I don't get why it's so difficult to understand why you can intentionally foul someone without the ball. Do people think you can just go to town pushing, jersey pulling, tripping, etc. your matchup just because the point guard is bringing the ball up the court?

[The 24th Letter]

Re: Let's Talk About The "Hack-a-Shaq" Strategy

Has a team ever been penalized for doing the "Hack a" under two minutes? Seems like its loosely enforced..

[King_B_Mack]

Re: Let's Talk About The "Hack-a-Shaq" Strategy

Has a team ever been penalized for doing the "Hack a" under two minutes? Seems like its loosely enforced..

I don't think anybody has ever done it after the two minute mark.

[ojandpizza]

Re: Let's Talk About The "Hack-a-Shaq" Strategy

This is not true at all. Fouls get called away from the ball all the time. I don't get why it's so difficult to understand why you can intentionally foul someone without the ball. Do people think you can just go to town pushing, jersey pulling, tripping, etc. your matchup just because the point guard is bringing the ball up the court?

Those aren't intentional though. Idk just seems odd to me. If you allow a player to run up and grab a guy if the other guy's reaction is to push him off of him I definitely don't think there should be a technical called.


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[dsallupinyaarea]

Re: Let's Talk About The "Hack-a-Shaq" Strategy

Why do the rules change for the last 2 minutes if this strategy is a natural part of the game? Why is something good for 10 minutes of a quarter and not for the last 2? If you're on the "don't change it" side, did you oppose the rule change for the last 2 minutes?