How would you fix the hack a Shaq problem

[fairweatherfan]

Yeah, it's not about "masking" anyone's weaknesses (FT shooting), it's about penalizing teams for committing a non-basketball play. Intentionally fouling a player not in possession of the ball should not be a legitimate part of the game. You're committing a rules violation with the hope of gaining an advantage, that's wrong.

Yeah, plus you can make a similar argument against things like the shot clock too.  And basketball's an entertainment product.  I've got no problem with making strategies that both exploit rulebreaking for advantage and make the game ugly to watch less rewarding.

The one concession to that argument I'd make is that the guy who's fouled needs to do the shooting.  Don't agree with letting the team pick their best shooter. 

That said, the biggest issue is that it's very difficult to figure out intent, which is why the NBA doesn't tend to use that term.  If somebody gets whistled for getting tangled up with DeAndre Jordan in the post when the ball's up top, how do you distinguish between ordinary post contact and an intentional foul?  Obvious intentionals are clearcut but there's a lot of gray area in there that refs would become responsible for interpreting.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

The solution? Make the Free Throws.

As far as I'm concerned, the other team is giving away 2 FREE points, I think it's the shooting player's fault for not capitalizing on it.

[mgent]

Yeah, it's not about "masking" anyone's weaknesses (FT shooting), it's about penalizing teams for committing a non-basketball play. Intentionally fouling a player not in possession of the ball should not be a legitimate part of the game. You're committing a rules violation with the hope of gaining an advantage, that's wrong.

What the heck do you think a foul is in the first place?

A player makes a "legitimate basketball play" (say, attempts a shot or drives past a defender) and then the opposing team "commits a rules violation" by making contact with said player, thus stopping the game.

So long as you pay the penalty for whatever the violation was, you're not discrediting the game.  You're playing it.

There's no "free" points in basketball.  They always have to be EARNED.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

Teams should always have the option to take the ball out from the sidelines instead of shooting free throws.

I think this one is reasonable. I'm against changing the rules that we already have, because I believe that having two free throws is enough of a penalty for the fouling team, and it's not their fault that you can't make it.

However, if it really needs to be changed, I like this one. This makes sense. Once a team reaches the Bonus, they should have the option if they want a side out, a baseline out or shoot FT's.

[littleteapot]

I think it's the same situation as the DH rule in baseball. People say "I don't like the AL because the pitchers should have to hit." Well they don't really hit in the NL either - they just stand there and either strike out or pop up most of the time - why are we wasting our time watching them have to do something they can't do.

[pearljammer10]

The only problem is guys not being able to hit free throws. Otherwise this is a good strategy regardless of how boring it is to watch.

[BballTim]

The only problem is guys not being able to hit free throws. Otherwise this is a good strategy regardless of how boring it is to watch.

  If you're worried about boredom, dump instant replay.

[celts55]

The only problem is guys not being able to hit free throws. Otherwise this is a good strategy regardless of how boring it is to watch.

That's the problem, it's boring to watch. The NBA is in the entertainment business. Since this is not entertaining it needs to be eliminated. Since it is an intentional foul, it should be 2 shots and the ball. End story.

[Csfan1984]

Bench poor Ft shooters in crunch time.

[KG Living Legend]

Wait so we remove three pointers too because some players can't shoot threes?

 These are the type of comments to avoid.

 Three's are fun and create space for exciting basketball.

 I'm sure everyone here has seen a hack a Shaq game, and usually you just change the channel.

 

[CelticPride2016]

Part of the strategy of the game, you gamble out there with bad FT shooters, you may get bit by it.   For those who do not like it, they have good meds out there for attention I hear these days.  That should fix it.

Bill Russell didn't hit free throws at that great a clip. I doubt it had anything to do with his attention span.

[wayupnorth]

How about players learn to shoot free throws at a decent clip?

Nothing needs to be fixed because it isn't a problem.

[KGs Knee]

I wonder how many of you saying "there is no problem" realize the NBA long ago conceded it in fact IS a problem? Thus why you are not allowed to commit intentional fouls against a player not in possession of the ball in the last 2 minutes of the game.

The NBA just simply needs to extend that rule throughout the whole game.

[csfansince60s]

The only problem is guys not being able to hit free throws. Otherwise this is a good strategy regardless of how boring it is to watch.

That's the problem, it's boring to watch. The NBA is in the entertainment business. Since this is not entertaining it needs to be eliminated. Since it is an intentional foul, it should be 2 shots and the ball. End story.

Does that also mean that teams who are down at the ends of games should be penalized the same way if they foul intentionally, i.e. the other team gets two shots AND the ball? That would take a lot of drama out at the end of games.

[Eja117]

2 FTs + the ball for intentional fouls.

I'd be open to this. It annoys me to no end when a team that is down with virtually no chance starts fouling. Like last night, weren't the Bobcats down like 11 with 40 seconds to go and they start fouling? I hate that.

In the mean time if they want to stop giving calls to star that would be good too.

And get rid of Joey Crawford, Violet Palmer, and Bill Kennedy.