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

[fairweatherfan]

The NBA may finally be ready to create rule changes to the Hack-A-Player rules.

“I’m increasingly of the view that we will be looking to make some sort of change in that rule this summer,” said Adam Silver.

Silver has long been neutral to the strategy of intentionally fouling a player who is poor at free throws.

“Even for those who had not wanted to make the change, we’re being forced to that position just based on these sophisticated coaches understandably using every tactic available to them," Silver said. "It’s just not the way we want to see the game played."

There have been nearly 300 Hack-A-Player instances this season compared to 164 in all of last season.

DeAndre Jordan, Andre Drummond and Dwight Howard comprise the majority of Hack-A-Player fouls.

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/240678/NBA-Finally-Ready-To-Make-Rule-Change-On-Hack-A-Player


Simple fix. Outisde of 2 minutes, give the team getting fouled the option when appropriate, like a football team declining a penalty.

So if Drummond were fouled, the Pistons options would be:

1.) Ability to inbound.
2.) Send Drummond to the line.
 

I'm opposed to changing the rules at all but, if we did, this solution is the best one I've seen. I would add the caveat that, even if the player declines the shots, the offender would still be charged with a foul. That takes away the incentive to keep fouling the guy in the hopes that the offense will eventually mess up the inbound.

Mike

It makes sense provided that the foul is away from the play.  Fouls on the play should always become free throws (assuming they're in the bonus).  Otherwise fouling late in the game to close the gap would become useless.

[slamtheking]

The NBA may finally be ready to create rule changes to the Hack-A-Player rules.

“I’m increasingly of the view that we will be looking to make some sort of change in that rule this summer,” said Adam Silver.

Silver has long been neutral to the strategy of intentionally fouling a player who is poor at free throws.

“Even for those who had not wanted to make the change, we’re being forced to that position just based on these sophisticated coaches understandably using every tactic available to them," Silver said. "It’s just not the way we want to see the game played."

There have been nearly 300 Hack-A-Player instances this season compared to 164 in all of last season.

DeAndre Jordan, Andre Drummond and Dwight Howard comprise the majority of Hack-A-Player fouls.

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/240678/NBA-Finally-Ready-To-Make-Rule-Change-On-Hack-A-Player


Simple fix. Outisde of 2 minutes, give the team getting fouled the option when appropriate, like a football team declining a penalty.

So if Drummond were fouled, the Pistons options would be:

1.) Ability to inbound.
2.) Send Drummond to the line.
 

I'm opposed to changing the rules at all but, if we did, this solution is the best one I've seen. I would add the caveat that, even if the player declines the shots, the offender would still be charged with a foul. That takes away the incentive to keep fouling the guy in the hopes that the offense will eventually mess up the inbound.

Mike

It makes sense provided that the foul is away from the play.  Fouls on the play should always become free throws (assuming they're in the bonus).  Otherwise fouling late in the game to close the gap would become useless.

agreed, if any changes occur it has to be restricted to off the ball fouling.

I could see modifying the rules to make it a technical foul so that 2 fouls and a fouling player is out of the game.  The fouled player still shoots the FTs but the fouled team gets the ball back to inbound.

still allows for intentional fouling which is a part of the game down the stretch but forces the trailing team to stick with fouling the player with the ball.  they have to work on D to force a pass to a player that's bad at FTs. 

[fairweatherfan]

The NBA may finally be ready to create rule changes to the Hack-A-Player rules.

“I’m increasingly of the view that we will be looking to make some sort of change in that rule this summer,” said Adam Silver.

Silver has long been neutral to the strategy of intentionally fouling a player who is poor at free throws.

“Even for those who had not wanted to make the change, we’re being forced to that position just based on these sophisticated coaches understandably using every tactic available to them," Silver said. "It’s just not the way we want to see the game played."

There have been nearly 300 Hack-A-Player instances this season compared to 164 in all of last season.

DeAndre Jordan, Andre Drummond and Dwight Howard comprise the majority of Hack-A-Player fouls.

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/240678/NBA-Finally-Ready-To-Make-Rule-Change-On-Hack-A-Player


Simple fix. Outisde of 2 minutes, give the team getting fouled the option when appropriate, like a football team declining a penalty.

So if Drummond were fouled, the Pistons options would be:

1.) Ability to inbound.
2.) Send Drummond to the line.
 

I'm opposed to changing the rules at all but, if we did, this solution is the best one I've seen. I would add the caveat that, even if the player declines the shots, the offender would still be charged with a foul. That takes away the incentive to keep fouling the guy in the hopes that the offense will eventually mess up the inbound.

Mike

It makes sense provided that the foul is away from the play.  Fouls on the play should always become free throws (assuming they're in the bonus).  Otherwise fouling late in the game to close the gap would become useless.

agreed, if any changes occur it has to be restricted to off the ball fouling.

I could see modifying the rules to make it a technical foul so that 2 fouls and a fouling player is out of the game.  The fouled player still shoots the FTs but the fouled team gets the ball back to inbound.

still allows for intentional fouling which is a part of the game down the stretch but forces the trailing team to stick with fouling the player with the ball.  they have to work on D to force a pass to a player that's bad at FTs.

I think the current away-from-the-play rules (for <2 minutes left) or this proposal are good enough to apply to the entire game.  One shot and the ball back, or the proposed option of inbounding rather than take the FTs.  No need to add extra penalties to it, especially a technical.  The players' union would be vehemently opposed since technicals cost money and eventually lead to suspensions and lost salary, and the coaches wouldn't want it either because putting players in that position would be bad for morale. 

[kozlodoev]

I think getting a choice on non-shooting fouls outside of 2 minutes is a fine solution. I'm still a proponent of the "learn a skill" solution, though.

[RMO]

I'm in the "learn to shoot your free throws" camp but understand that change is probably on the way.

Intentional foul when the player has the ball should not change.  If you have the ball it's fair game, I don't care what point of the game it is.  In the last two minutes, if they foul a player away from the ball then give the free throws to the player who has the ball at that time.  This way the defense needs to strategize keeping the ball out of the better FT shooter's hands. 

[slamtheking]

The NBA may finally be ready to create rule changes to the Hack-A-Player rules.

“I’m increasingly of the view that we will be looking to make some sort of change in that rule this summer,” said Adam Silver.

Silver has long been neutral to the strategy of intentionally fouling a player who is poor at free throws.

“Even for those who had not wanted to make the change, we’re being forced to that position just based on these sophisticated coaches understandably using every tactic available to them," Silver said. "It’s just not the way we want to see the game played."

There have been nearly 300 Hack-A-Player instances this season compared to 164 in all of last season.

DeAndre Jordan, Andre Drummond and Dwight Howard comprise the majority of Hack-A-Player fouls.

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/240678/NBA-Finally-Ready-To-Make-Rule-Change-On-Hack-A-Player


Simple fix. Outisde of 2 minutes, give the team getting fouled the option when appropriate, like a football team declining a penalty.

So if Drummond were fouled, the Pistons options would be:

1.) Ability to inbound.
2.) Send Drummond to the line.
 

I'm opposed to changing the rules at all but, if we did, this solution is the best one I've seen. I would add the caveat that, even if the player declines the shots, the offender would still be charged with a foul. That takes away the incentive to keep fouling the guy in the hopes that the offense will eventually mess up the inbound.

Mike

It makes sense provided that the foul is away from the play.  Fouls on the play should always become free throws (assuming they're in the bonus).  Otherwise fouling late in the game to close the gap would become useless.

agreed, if any changes occur it has to be restricted to off the ball fouling.

I could see modifying the rules to make it a technical foul so that 2 fouls and a fouling player is out of the game.  The fouled player still shoots the FTs but the fouled team gets the ball back to inbound.

still allows for intentional fouling which is a part of the game down the stretch but forces the trailing team to stick with fouling the player with the ball.  they have to work on D to force a pass to a player that's bad at FTs.

I think the current away-from-the-play rules (for <2 minutes left) or this proposal are good enough to apply to the entire game.  One shot and the ball back, or the proposed option of inbounding rather than take the FTs.  No need to add extra penalties to it, especially a technical.  The players' union would be vehemently opposed since technicals cost money and eventually lead to suspensions and lost salary, and the coaches wouldn't want it either because putting players in that position would be bad for morale. 

If they went with the technical route, they could remove the financial penalty part.  it's not a behavioral issue generating the situation, it's a coaching move.  that, or make the financial penalty on the coach or franchise rather than the player.  behavioral techs remain as is.

[fairweatherfan]

I think getting a choice on non-shooting fouls outside of 2 minutes is a fine solution. I'm still a proponent of the "learn a skill" solution, though.

Me too, but...entertainment product.  When the rules start getting exploited in a way that makes it ugly, tweaking them's a reasonable solution.

[kozlodoev]

I think getting a choice on non-shooting fouls outside of 2 minutes is a fine solution. I'm still a proponent of the "learn a skill" solution, though.

Me too, but...entertainment product.  When the rules start getting exploited in a way that makes it ugly, tweaking them's a reasonable solution.

I've always been mightily entertained by folks who can't hit the rim from the FT line, as long as they're not on my team. I live for the DeAndre Jordan airball. 

[fairweatherfan]

I think getting a choice on non-shooting fouls outside of 2 minutes is a fine solution. I'm still a proponent of the "learn a skill" solution, though.

Me too, but...entertainment product.  When the rules start getting exploited in a way that makes it ugly, tweaking them's a reasonable solution.

I've always been mightily entertained by folks who can't hit the rim from the FT line, as long as they're not on my team. I live for the DeAndre Jordan airball. 

Haha, I'm onboard with that for sure.  Drummond has some creative misses too.  Just don't like watching 20-30 attempts to get that one beautiful whiff.

[PhoSita]

If watching the free throws is the problem, just make them automatic for everybody.


If actually hitting a free throw is supposed to be a valued NBA skill that affects how teams use different players, then you don't change the rules for the sake of guys who can't shoot them.


I guess the middle ground is you could make free throws after a certain threshhold (let's say double the penalty amount) are automatic.

[PhoSita]

I'm in the "learn to shoot your free throws" camp but understand that change is probably on the way.

Intentional foul when the player has the ball should not change.  If you have the ball it's fair game, I don't care what point of the game it is.  In the last two minutes, if they foul a player away from the ball then give the free throws to the player who has the ball at that time.  This way the defense needs to strategize keeping the ball out of the better FT shooter's hands.

This is a decent solution.  At least it could involve some strategy. 

That's my biggest issue.  Don't penalize teams that look for strategic advantage and prop up teams that rely on physically dominant but one-dimensional, low-skilled players.

If you're going to make a rule change for the sake of entertainment, find one that still rewards teams for being smart and exploiting weaknesses of their opponent.

[Mr Green]

I'm against changing the rules. These guys get paid millions. If they don't want to look stupid missing free throws they should hire a tutor and practice.

But if the rules do change I think players should foul out after 4 or 5 fouls instead of 6. Fouls become too valuable to just give away, the floor opens up even more, and teams who build deep rosters are rewarded instead of teams who built around one or two stars with filler.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

This is stupid.  "Hack-A-Player" is a basketball strategy.  It's ugly to watch but, nonetheless, its still strategy. 

Learn to shoot free throws.

This^

There are also some guards who can't shoot from outside (looking at you, Rubio)—perhaps the league should also institute a rule that spares us the sight of their ugly shooting?

[Smartacus]

I'm against changing the rules. These guys get paid millions. If they don't want to look stupid missing free throws they should hire a tutor and practice.

But if the rules do change I think players should foul out after 4 or 5 fouls instead of 6. Fouls become too valuable to just give away, the floor opens up even more, and teams who build deep rosters are rewarded instead of teams who built around one or two stars with filler.

What? The only thing the league needs to do with fouls is add a 7th foul in double ot. A few weeks back when Cousins was capping off a brilliant 56 point game against Charlotte he fouled out in double OT on his 6th foul.

This wasn't a dirty play and he wasn't bull rushing people all game just a 6th foul that happened in the flow of the game that a big man really can't avoid picking up due to the nature of playing in the post.

Guys like Kemba, Steph, and Harden rarely have to worry about picking up 6 fouls yet skilled big men like Cousins get thrown out right when they're about to make history.

4 or 5 fouls?  No thanks, the league has already made the big man game watered down enough.

[MBunge]

So we are going to screw basketball because 4-5 really bad bigs that can't shot free throws , while the other 295 players can .

Let's be clear. The problem isn't the players.  The NBA has always had terrible free throw shooters.  The problem is a handful of supposedly brilliant coaches who have taken the hack-a tactic to ridiculous levels, even though there's not really much evidence it works as far as helping you win games, to try and prove how smart they are.

Mike