That's like saying "3 words ends poverty: get a job" Sometimes, legislation is necessary to accomplish what the masses are unable to accomplish for themselves. In this case, while it's a nice idea for every NBA player to be able to make 65%+ of their free throws, it's just not realistic. The best thing for the game as a whole is to legislate intentional fouling out of the game as much as possible.
I disagree completely. Also, technically, fouling at the end of games to stop the clock is intentional.
I was of that mindset as well. Then I watched DeAndre Jordan take 30 fts and keep on getting hacked with the game well out of reach in a 3+ hour debacle. 0 interest in that. NBA has changed the rules plenty of times in history to make the game more entertaining and free flowing. This should be no exception
Anyone can develop a semi consistent shot. Anyone. You can paint it any way you want, but it's still a rule change that hides the deficiencies of and coddles elite athletes.
Hack-a-whoever hides deficiencies in team defense and coddles coaches who are unable to get teams to effectively play both sides of the ball. But somehow that's OK?
WTF am I painting? I'm talking about entertainment value for ME. You enjoy watching a guy brick 25 FTs?
Yes. DeAndre Jordan free throws award me the opportunity to get up, grab a beer, whilst simultaneously yelling "THAT'S RIGHT MUTHAFUCKA!!" after every miss. I drink the tears of fans that whine about us fouling their weak free throwers.
Interesting article on bad FT shooters http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/17115866/real-root-nba-intentional-foul-epidemic
You lost me here. NBA players are the masses? No. They are the elite. They should be the best at FT. Legislation is NOT needed here to help the masses because the masses aren't even in the NBA. ALL NBA players are elite compared to all basketball players in the world. More practice and discipline would help though....
He won two titles. One as the best player on the team, over 40 years ago. Not sure it's fair to compare them.
No, they should be the best at a general amalgamation of basketball activities, not necessarily at every one of them. Shooting free throws is such a small part of the game that it's ridiculous that such massive import is placed upon it. Honestly, the fact that the best free throw shooters in the world are generally old out of shape white dudes shows that the skill (and that's all it is) is not indicative of NBA talent; by logical extension, NBA talent is not necessarily going to result in effective FT shooting. It's similar to expecting all NBA players to be the best ball-handlers, 3-point shooters, rebounders or post-up players.
Cool article; mental toughness seems to be a big part of the FT game. That Mason Plumlee started out the season as a hack-a-player but stopped that technique by delivering the goods at the line is a testament to his mental game. Ed Davis is getting better too. You want to keep the players who are toughest mentally.
I don't have a problem with this either in terms of the game or in terms of "morality." I don't think every player who shoots free throws badly is lazy; I think shooting is a skill that, like any other, some people can be significantly worse than average. Some of that skill is dealing with pressure while doing something that you're not naturally comfortable with--it's been well-documented that some poor free throw shooters (like Shaq) shoot them perfectly well in practice. But it doesn't translate to games. That pressure didn't affect Shaq's performance on things that were in his wheelhouse, obviously. In terms of the game, I'd rather a more free-flowing affair than grinding games to a halt at the end of halves. I don't blame coaches for doing it--within the rules, it made plenty of strategic sense. But I don't blame the NBA for not wanting that to be a part of the game.
Bollocks. The best thing for the game as a whole is for players to either improve their free throw shooting, or be pulled from the game and replaced by a better free throw shooter.
So, you'd rather have a team full of good free throw shooters than a team full of players who are good at a wider range of skills? Well, to each their own, I guess.
wait, so you cant even foul to stop the clock anymore? i mean, you can, but they just get the ball back anyways?
The existing rule only applies to off-ball fouls. Fouling the ball-handler to stop the clock is still allowed.
