Hack-A-Insert Poor FT Shooter Here

Commisioner Adam Silver has recently spoken on the "Hack-a-Shaq" strategy as San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich and the Dallas Mavericks' Rick Carlisle persist on using the strategy against their Western conference first round match-ups. The issue is something which has divided the NBA, with legends such as Chris Webber calling for players to simply make their free throws. Others argue that it isn't entertaining and downright boring; the exact antithesis of what the NBA is about in regards to fan relations and engagement.

Commisioner Silver had this to say to Tim MacMahon of ESPN:

"It's something that I'm on the fence about. My thought used to be that we should definitely change the rule, and then having sat through several general managers meetings, competition meetings and having heard from some of the game's very best, the view is the players should hit their free throws. That's changed my view a little bit.

Having said that, when I watch some of these games on television, frankly, it's not great entertainment for our fans, and that's important as well. What I've said is we have another general managers meeting coming up in May, we have a competition committee meeting in June, and I'm sure it's going to be a hot topic of discussion.

Then, we have an owners meeting in July, so I think at all three of those meetings we're going to be having full-throated conversations about what the right rules should be going forward."

The strategy is widely unpopular and boring to watch however it is certainly effective against poor FT shooters. Prior to the start of the playoffs in a Spurs v Rockets matchup, Gregg Popovich sent Josh Smith (49% FT) to the line a total of 26 times in that one game. Smith would go on to only make 12 of those shots and the game eventually finished with the Spurs being victorious. However it wasn't just the fact the Smith gave up so many points, it was a number of other factors. By consistent fouling, the ball was no longer in James Harden's deadly hands. He couldn't create or make shots but more importantly couldn't find any rhythm. The strategy takes the crowd out of the game entirely simply due to boredom but when it's working, it is definitely working. Coach Popovich continued the strategy against the Clippers in their first round matchup, sending DeAndre Jordan (42% FT) to the line a total of 39 (THIRTY NINE!!) times across the first two games. Jordan would hit only 11 of those attempts and (among other factors) helped the Spurs tie the series at one apiece.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZQbE6_E4ss

NBA players are expected to play and compete at the highest level and a simple aspect of basketball is clearly troublesome for a select few players. Should the league change the rules for these players? For the sake of entertainment? Many ideas have been thrown around, including allowing the team to simply inbound the ball rather than shoot FTs after an off the ball foul. Another idea is that the team can select which player takes the FTs instead of it being Jordan, Smith, Howard, Capela and so on. However this leaves many problems including a loss of points, but what would the league prefer? A simple aspect of basketball is shooting FTs and people being paid millions of dollars to play the game as their livelihood SHOULD be able to do so effectively. But sometimes it really just isn't that simple.