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

[wwharton]

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

Do the guys who like this rule realize the majority of the time it's used because the team is getting destroyed? I understand the whole make your free throws argument, but the flip side to that argument is man up and play defense. This "strategy" is never used against crappy offensive teams. Nobody is using Hack-a player against the Bucks. Why? Because there offense is trash.
Using this, to me, is essentially conceding your defense is just as suspect as Deandre Jordan's FT shooting honestly. So instead of finding a way to actually get a stop you exploit a BS rule to make sure you don't even have to ATTEMPT playing defense. That too me is a much bigger problem than someone not being able to shoot. Defense is half the game and this crap makes it possible for teams to completely disregard that half.


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I don't think anybody "likes" the strategy, but this isn't a pick up game where you have unlimited fouls either. There is balance already in place, and coaches should be able to attack the weakness of teams as they see fit. If I, as a coach, decide to foul Jordan all game I'm going to have to risk key players being lost late in games to fouls or play guys I'd rather not have on the floor just to foul. There is a balance.

If I'm Jordan's coach, I have to decide if I want him in the game for all the amazing things he gives to my team, or pull him to avoid his brick laying on the foul line. That's balance.

You say this only happens when there's a blowout? Then why is he in the game? No one is forcing Doc to play him. That's why I have a problem with changing the rule. It's another example of "We want to see the stars so lets adjust the rules to benefit them" and I will never get behind that.

[The 24th Letter]

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

It's interesting that Dre's teammate Blake Griffin was once a "Hack a" candidate, but improved that aspect of his game enough so that's no longer the case...

[JODYE]

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

Wait 24th, are you telling us that it's possible to practice something and get better at it? What a novel concept!!

[King_B_Mack]

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

Pop will be missed whenever he decides to call it quits.

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/05/04/gregg-popovich-on-hack-a-shaq-rule-if-someone-cant-shoot-free-throws-thats-their-problem/?utm_network=facebook&utm_post=3655458&utm_source=FB%20-%20NBC%20Sports&utm_tags=srm%5Bbasketball%2Carticle%5D

“There will be a lot of discussion about the fouling, as there should be. But principle-wise, I fee’ really strongly that it’s a tactic that can be used. If someone can’t shoot free throws, that’s their problem. As I’ve said before, if we’re not allowed to do something to take advantage of a team’s weakness, a trade should be made before each game. ‘We won’t foul your guy, but you promise not to block any of our shots.’ Or, ‘We won’t foul your guy, and you allow us to shoot all uncontested shots.’

“So we’d have to make a trade. On an intellectual or principle basis, I think you’re on high ground. Now, visual-wise, it’s awful. It couldn’t be worse. I tend to side on the principle side where it’s basketball, and if we have a guy who can’t shoot and it’s an important part of the game, I should probably get him off the court. We’ll see how it comes out. I’m sure the way it looks will be discussed very seriously by the league.”

[dsallupinyaarea]

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

Nice try Pop but every counter factual he came up with doesn't start with a non-basketball play. Can you stop a game and make someone block shots? Or Dribble? Leaving a shooter open in the halfcourt isn't the same as fouling someone 1 second into the shotclock, 15 feet from the ball.

It's just.... not the same thing.

On ball fouls for bad free throw shooters to put them on the line? No problem.

Clearly keying in on the worst free throw shooter on the court to put him on the line with a non-basketball play? That's gotta go. I just want actual basketball, when I watch basketball. What's wrong with making someone do something basketball related to implement their strategy? Blatant intentional fouls should be shot and ball. If a ref can't tell the difference, we need new refs.

[jeebs9]

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

Just watching the BS fro last nights game where they fouled each other on back to back possession. You can't tell you want to see every quarter end like that.

[iLLWiLL9105]

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

I don't think anybody "likes" the strategy, but this isn't a pick up game where you have unlimited fouls either. There is balance already in place, and coaches should be able to attack the weakness of teams as they see fit. If I, as a coach, decide to foul Jordan all game I'm going to have to risk key players being lost late in games to fouls or play guys I'd rather not have on the floor just to foul. There is a balance.



If I'm Jordan's coach, I have to decide if I want him in the game for all the amazing things he gives to my team, or pull him to avoid his brick laying on the foul line. That's balance.



You say this only happens when there's a blowout? Then why is he in the game? No one is forcing Doc to play him. That's why I have a problem with changing the rule. It's another example of "We want to see the stars so lets adjust the rules to benefit them" and I will never get behind that.

I didn't necessarily mean during a blowout. It's more used when teams are struggling to contain a team. You're not taking your starters out in a playoff game just because you're up 10-15 in the fourth. You say they should be forced to decide to take out the best defender on the team, well my counter is the other team should be forced to decide whether to play better offensive players or defensive players to get back in the game.
This strategy makes the decision for them. You don't have to play defense at ALL. Just randomly foul the other teams big who's not even involved in the play a majority of the time. Even if he makes both you still don't have to make the decision to play a better defensive lineup. Your team has conceded that they can't defend and would rather live with the results of free shots than actually try to get a stop. That's not basketball.


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[RedSceptile]

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

Just watching the BS fro last nights game where they fouled each other on back to back possession. You can't tell you want to see every quarter end like that.

The Hack tactic lost us the game because our best defensive player and rim protector can't hit free throws and couldn't be on the court for extended stretches. Who cares how it looks? Winning isn't about looking pretty it's about winning that simple.

[jeebs9]

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

The Hack tactic lost us the game because our best defensive player and rim protector can't hit free throws and couldn't be on the court for extended stretches. Who cares how it looks? Winning isn't about looking pretty it's about winning that simple.

It's wasn't only about the way the game looks. You really want to watch these guys fouling each other because they hack-a so they could do it right back to the other team.... That's BS. Could you imagine if they put this in 2k?
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-S_soY5Jg_Q" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Kashanova]

Re: Let's Talk About The &quot;Hack-a-Shaq&quot; Strategy

I say leave the hack a shaq in the game. These guys are professionals and have all the resources available to get better. This is almost like the Shift argument in baseball.

[23]

Re: Let's Talk About The &quot;Hack-a-Shaq&quot; Strategy

I say leave the hack a shaq in the game. These guys are professionals and have all the resources available to get better. This is almost like the Shift argument in baseball.

Where have you been dude

[Kashanova]

Re: Let's Talk About The &quot;Hack-a-Shaq&quot; Strategy

Where have you been dude

Living bro, losing track of time and enjoying it. I got some downtime, so I'm back.

[wwharton]

Re: Let's Talk About The &quot;Hack-a-Shaq&quot; Strategy

I say leave the hack a shaq in the game. These guys are professionals and have all the resources available to get better. This is almost like the Shift argument in baseball.

That was actually the first thing I thought about. I'm an O's fan and the shift hurts Chris Davis probably more than anyone... but it'd be a joke if they changed the rules for it. Same here.

I am only slightly off the fence though, bc I still want to know what happened to intentional fouls... seems like if they're called like I believe the rules say they should, this wouldn't be a problem.

[redsox4evur]

Re: Let's Talk About The &quot;Hack-a-Shaq&quot; Strategy

That was actually the first thing I thought about. I'm an O's fan and the shift hurts Chris Davis probably more than anyone... but it'd be a joke if they changed the rules for it. Same here.

I am only slightly off the fence though, bc I still want to know what happened to intentional fouls... seems like if they're called like I believe the rules say they should, this wouldn't be a problem.

David Ortiz begs to differ on the shifts. But what is the actual ruling on intentional fouls?

[wwharton]

Re: Let's Talk About The &quot;Hack-a-Shaq&quot; Strategy

David Ortiz begs to differ on the shifts. But what is the actual ruling on intentional fouls?

Begs to differ with me? I'd guess most players who have the shift put on for them think it should go away... I bet the Jordans and Howards of the NBA want to get rid of the Hack-a-Shaq too. Probably not a coincidence.

From everything I've known, an on purpose foul (not using "intentional" just bc it's the actual term) away from the ball is generally called intentional, while on the ball it needs to be borderline flagrant to get that call. So, for example, in HS or college on a late in bounds pass you won't see someone just grab a player to get the foul called without running time off the clock... instead you might see them jump in front of a guy to cause a collision and fall, forcing the ref to call a charge or foul. The lower the level, even grabbing a shirt when someone tries to take off may get an intentional foul call.

This is how it used to be in the NBA but I can't put my finger on when that changed. Either way, it's a subjective rule left up to the refs. So it's strange to me that they are discussing making rule changes rather than just having the refs enforce this rule as it should be. That is, unless the rule actually changed in the NBA at some point. That's what I don't know.