"Hack-A ..." intentional fouling...

[paul06901]

So I hear all this debate and turmoil recently about the intentional "hack-a..." player fouling on players like Dwight Howard, Reggie Evans, etc.


The arguments are that it slows the game down, ruins the enjoyment and excitement.



My argument ... TOUGH! It's a damn competitive game. Every single NBA player is out there to put a ball in the hoop on offense. If a player CAN'T do that and is being paid MILLIONS of dollars, why not exploit that?


Dwight could spend hours in the gym perfecting his FTs, but he'd rather goof around and showboat for cameras in his free-time. Reggie Evans could do the same, but he's probably too busy lifting weights.

OK, those points were maybe a bit exaggerated ... but anyone who can complain about this, really needs to re-evaluate the game!


I LOVE this technique, it really puts pressure on a player to perfect their game. I was never a fan of the 'big bodies' in any sport. Where you're just BIG so you play a certain sport. How about Yao Ming, Dirk, etc? These guys are 7ft+ and shoot beautifully from FT-line.

I know a lot of this is due to natural talent, but I really hope the NBA doesn't enact any sort of rule against this ... I'm all for it!

[atomslayer]

I've heard its harder to shoot free throws the bigger your hands are, I think that contributes.

[paul06901]

Originally Posted by atomslayer

They can't shoot free throws because of their large hands mostly, its very difficult to shoot them with hands like that.

Dirk and Yao have very large hands, so do many other big men. That point has been proven irrelevant.

[tristan20]

Got to make your FTs

Or at least do a Shaq, make them when they count lol

[SK40]

Have to agree. If you struggle to make an uncontested shot from 15 feet expect to be shooting plenty of them.

[tristan20]

It's called a FREE THROW, you basically get two points for free. Not sure why anyone would argue getting them.

If you can't prove to your team that you can make FTs at critical points in the game, you shouldn't be on the court.

[cookiechrisps]

Originally Posted by paul06901

Dirk and Yao have very large hands, so do many other big men. That point has been proven irrelevant.

I agree, the reason why big men are poor shooters is because of the different arc and angle that they shoot with. They are more prone to having flatter shots. Dwight Howard claimed to have shot 90% FT in his early years in high school back when he was 6'6". I guess he never adapted.

[xavieronly1]

Originally Posted by cookiechrisps

I agree, the reason why big men are poor shooters is because of the different arc and angle that they shoot with. They are more prone to having flatter shots. Dwight Howard claimed to have shot 90% FT in his early years in high school back when he was 6'6". I guess he never adapted.

He doesn't pay attention to train on this aspect of the game. Shawn Bradley has 71.6% FT.

On the side note, these numbers suggested that non-black players shoot better FT with 7+ feet.

Player Season Finder | Basketball-Reference.com

[Heafy83]

I agree. Whilst it may not make much of spectacle its more than legitimate tactic. Its no different to a player realizing their defender doesn't know how to pick their crossover or is a bit slow moving left. Its all about identifying your opponents weakness.

Only player that had any excuse was Shaq. His wrist was crooked or something lol

[hairyangryfella]

I think it's fair enough, you wanna be on the court, you need to perform.

I went 0/3 FTs this mini-season at the YMCA... haven't ever attempted one before!


I did read something recently though that in practice Dwight shoots 80-90% FTs, when there's nobody around and no pressure. Just like other problems with him, maybe it's all just a mental thing...

[pingbling23]

Originally Posted by hairyangryfella

I think it's fair enough, you wanna be on the court, you need to perform.

I went 0/3 FTs this mini-season at the YMCA... haven't ever attempted one before!


I did read something recently though that in practice Dwight shoots 80-90% FTs, when there's nobody around and no pressure. Just like other problems with him, maybe it's all just a mental thing...

exactly, to say players are not practicing their free throws is why they are missing is false. it was known that shaq practiced free throws constantly but was still a poor shooter from the line. i think its mental.

[paul06901]

Originally Posted by pingbling23

exactly, to say players are not practicing their free throws is why they are missing is false. it was known that shaq practiced free throws constantly but was still a poor shooter from the line. i think its mental.

Dwight Howard went something like 18-18 or something crazy one game early this season. Shaq could develop a form to consistently at least push the ball in the air and bank them in every time.

It boils down to:

#1: Mentality ... it gets in their heads that they can't make them ... the pressure of being on the spot doesn't help. I played competitively for a few years and my FT % was not great either to begin with, yet I can shoot lights out during the game situations.

#2: Social Status ... yes, I said it! Players like Shaq & Dwight would rather shoot in a better looking, more aesthetic shooting form and miss, instead of just banking them in every time. It's a simple case of sacrificing results for the team to make up for personal 'gain'.


There are other issues, but basically anyone can become fairly decent at something if practiced enough. As long as the physical ability is there. For example, a 3 year old child will not shoot a good FT% because they simply do not have the strength to reach the hoop. Shaq and DH12 have the ability to shoot the ball with one finger if they needed to!





Point and case, adopt the Rick Barry FT-style and MAKE your FTs ... who cares what you look like doing it ... LOSE THE EGO AND MAKE THE FREETHROWS!

[Randomcards]

Originally Posted by xavieronly1

He doesn't pay attention to train on this aspect of the game. Shawn Bradley has 71.6% FT.

On the side note, these numbers suggested that non-black players shoot better FT with 7+ feet.

Player Season Finder | Basketball-Reference.com

What the #@#@#@#@ kind of "Side Note" is that?

[xavieronly1]

Originally Posted by pingbling23

exactly, to say players are not practicing their free throws is why they are missing is false. it was known that shaq practiced free throws constantly but was still a poor shooter from the line. i think its mental.

There is a difference of shooting FT in practice. In practice, you do the same thing over and over (100 times or even 200 times in a row). Your muscle has memory. Your mind will do small adjustment. Let's say you hit the front rim, your next shot would push little bit harder. And you would try to keep the same power used from the 2nd shot to use for 3rd shot.

In real game situation, your muscle does not remember how you shoot the FT last time. For player like Howard who does not have a good shooting form, he has to use the first shot to 'test' his power.

To put in different situation, a student would do well on practice questions for 1 topic at home because they are doing the same/similar questions over and over. However, when he/she goes to the exam, he/she may not do well because there are too many topics and the concepts got mixed up.

[Dwade Collector]

What guys got to understand about practice and the real game is fatigue. Please understand, any NBA player can hit 10 free throws in a row at full strength no problem. When the game starts and you have ran back and forth down the court 16 times and then you get hammered by a guy like Reggie Evans, it's much tougher to hit your foul shots. With the combination of fatigue, your shoulder pain from Reggie Evans and the pressure from the fans....... it's not as easy in-game like in practice...... 100% completely different!

[RandysHobby]

Originally Posted by atomslayer

I've heard its harder to shoot free throws the bigger your hands are, I think that contributes.

That isn't true. Shooting a womens ball is easier than a mens!

[paul06901]

Originally Posted by Dwade Collector

What guys got to understand about practice and the real game is fatigue. Please understand, any NBA player can hit 10 free throws in a row at full strength no problem. When the game starts and you have ran back and forth down the court 16 times and then you get hammered by a guy like Reggie Evans, it's much tougher to hit your foul shots. With the combination of fatigue, your shoulder pain from Reggie Evans and the pressure from the fans....... it's not as easy in-game like in practice...... 100% completely different!

That's not what we're discussing though. We're specifically calling out the players who get fouled intentionally and put on the line mid-end game due to their poor FT shooting habits.

Also, your statement that any NBA player can hit 10 freethrows in a row at full strength no problem is completely false.


I'm not saying what you said doesn't make sense, it does...but that's common knowledge and irrelevant to the point of this thread ... Shaq can't hit 10FTs in a row whether it be in the 6th overtime of a NBA finals game, or in his backyard sitting in a recliner with a mai tai!

[xavieronly1]

Originally Posted by paul06901

I'm not saying what you said doesn't make sense, it does...but that's common knowledge and irrelevant to the point of this thread ... Shaq can't hit 10FTs in a row whether it be in the 6th overtime of a NBA finals game, or in his backyard sitting in a recliner with a mai tai!

This is not true at all. Shaq did have a game when he hit 13/13 for FT on April 17, 2001. 13 in a row, baby!

[hche]

Actually, that is a sounded strategy. However, it does slow the game down by a mile. So banning it to until like the last 2 or 3 minutes for each quarter is the right thing to do.