That's why I love SOCCER. The basic rules and way of instituting them usually don't change. They've been the same for a long time. No single player or single team will make the rules change. *hack-a-Shaq*, anyone? Because beating your opponent doesn't involve beating them with skill, but with bending the rules because they're that easy to bend. Here we have OFF-BALL fouling... away from the play, people grab Omar Asik (yet he banks points for the Rockets because it didn't work)... but... the rules allow it. That's hilarious.
All rule changes have their trade-offs. I enjoyed the tension when okc went to the hack-Asik strategy in the playoffs this year. But I'd trade that for never seeing another fast break end with a clearly beaten defender wrapping up a player to avoid giving up a dunk.
I read the full article. They are not talking about Hack-a-Shaq. They are talking about intentionally fouling someone who is going for a dunk. Basically, they are saying we need more than just a clear path call. Anytime someone has an easy bucket, no intentional fouls should be allowed, is what they are saying. You can't tie someone up just to prevent a layup or dunk. That's a pretty petty point as far as new rules (or better enforced ones) that we need. We already have rules for that. And FIBA does NOT prevent that unless the foul was not a play on the ball. The NBA has a similar unsportsmanlike call.
I don't like that. The problem with intentional fouls - IMO - is the hack-a shaq and the fact that the last 5 minutes of a game take 30. But fouling a guy on a layup/dunk is basketball 101. Anyone who's ever played as a big man was (or should have) been taught that.
I'd rather see intentional walks eliminated in baseball to see the best hitter/pitcher face-offs than to to see fouls eliminated in basketball And actually All Star Games are considered boring cuz no one's getting in each other's way, its mostly just unobstructed paths to the basket. Its actually the size, athleticism and the physicality of the NBA that sets it apart from everyone else. Defense is part of basketball now, and fouling is part of defense. What its sounding like is some bias against defensive evolution of the game.
How bout making a FREE throw and embarris the team for putting you there. Would rather see charging calls cleaned up.
Huh? really? so a player hugs one, and them comes other player to steal the ball, so the defensive team has more advantage is that what you want? yeah lets play NBA Jam style, when you can push other players, so you can get the ball back, Good idea!
Fouling away from the ball is just plain boring and especially a player who doesnt have a good free throw percentage. Watching freethrow after freethrow is jusy so boring. The league needs to reduce the amount of freethrows.
Let's face it, if you shoot 80% you are a very good free throw shooter already. 70% you are fine. So by fouling, teams are chopping off 0.4, 0.6 points off your team. Unless players can shoot 95%+ or the like there will always be circumstances where it benefits the team who fouls rather than play fairly.
Just because you grew up with it doesn't mean it's right. That's like Aggies not wanting to change their silly chant song to remove UT's saw horns off or whatever. You must be an aggie.
I think fouls should be a bigger punishment. 4 fouls and you're out of the game. This would cut down on the number of fouls dramatically.
...except for the MLS, which tried all sorts of gimmicky rules that they finally had to abandon and play proper soccer
it has banned intentional fouls only on clear-stops during fast-breaks and before in-bounding the ball. It works like this: other team shoots 2 FT's and retains the ball. I think it's a bit too much, 1 FT would be fair enough.
merrlo, you're right, sir. Remember the "shootout"...? What a joke. It was so exciting to have Jeff Hornacek and Larry Bird grab their crotch, then their face and especially their eyes in an auto-inoculation sort of way of infecting themselves... *sigh*, those were the days. I miss it, too.
The article actually is not about Hack-a-Shaq. It's about wrapping someone up who is going in for a dunk or layup. The author wants that to stop, because it robs us of seeing the fun of bball...a dunk. Basically, they are suggesting the Clear Path penalty be inforced more to stop any dunk or layup that looks inevitable.
