OT NBA Finally Ready To Make Rule Change On Hack-A-Player

Great idea - giving the refs even more grey area to operate within. Now they get to determine another person's intentions? What is this Minority Report bullshit?

 

Sure they are - they get to determine whether the team has a choice or not. Unless teams get to choose between side-out and FTs on all fouls, which would be even more appalling.

 

Bogus rule change. FT's are a part of the game. If you can't shoot them you deserve to be punished.

 

Here's a couple takes from the SI staff

 

I'm all for the 2 freethrows and the ball idea. I've watched the game evolve over many decades and the hack a shaq trend is ruining the endgame for me. The increase in the use of it is actually frightening. Most of the time it doesn't involve a guy with the ball in his hands, so to me, that's not a basketball play.

 

So we're just ignoring my point about how it could completely fuck up end-of-game strategy?

 

I do feel that you have the right to foul any guy with the ball in his hand just like trying to stop a layup on a fast break...but to walk over to Jorday and hug him when they bring the ball up...to me, that's gotta go..also get rid of gaining possession after they miss and it won't be such a clock issue

 

You're right about one thing: The Jordan hug has got to go. But the solution is to take the player off the floor if his lack of a particular skill is detrimental to his team's chances of success. Just say no to affirmative action for shitty free throw shooters.

 

Really?
So, Howard goes up to dunk, Plumlee contests the shot causing a miss but because his arms came down at the end of the play a foul is called. HOU now gets to decide whether they want to put Howard at the line OR if they'd rather take the side-out so Beard can attempt to draw another foul to shoot FTs instead. That's not basketball.

 

Never should of adjusted the rule a few years ago! I can easily make 8-10 FT's. An NBA player should be able to do the same. If they cant, they can sit on the bench because they are a liability on the court.

 

I agree with this...it's the guy they foul without the ball, nowhere near the basket that is muddying up the endgame for me. I hated watching Shaq shoot 20 freethrows in the 4th qtr of a playoff game.

 

I loved it, because I was rooting for him to fail, and he was terrible from the line.

 

I prefer to win by knockout, not decision...I think it ruined a competitive aspect of the game. Refs weren't letting that Laker team fail. Shaq could put his knee in your chest and hand on your face when he dunked and get the +1

 

If people can't put up with the rare occasion where a basketball game becomes a FT-shooting contest, they have NO BUSINESS watching baseball or football. Yet I bet a good majority of NBA fans are also NFL and MLB fans.

It's not like basketball games are consistently grinding to a halt. It's only close games against teams that have a starting PF/C who can't shoot FTs. Just a stab in the dark, but I'd put it at between 5-10% of games. We're changing the rules to coddle professionals who can't adequately perform their job duties because it's "ruining" 5-10% of the games!?!

 

HIT 'EM IN THE MUSCLE! HIT 'EM IN THE MUSCLE!

 

We've already half a season in, doubled the hack fouls from last year...it's become a go to move..and for me, it's not coddling the pros...it's ruining the endgame..Silver sees this as watering down the entertainment for fans...not the analytics of coaches. I have no problem with rule changes. I like the 3pt shot. I like the 3 sec rule. I'm glad they're looking at the game and trying to improve it