Hack a Rondo is a bad idea I think, because based on how the Mavs have looked with Rondo vs Devin Harris or JJ Barea I'd rather take the lineup with the PG that can't shoot or space the floor for Ellis, Parsons and Nowitzki. So if the Rockets hack Rondo and he does not perform, he gets benched and that is bad for the Rockets.
Rondo is a 61% career ft shooter. He's struggling this year, but he's only taken 78 attempts. I would bet he shoots 60% if we hack him, which means it's a bad idea.
For me, it depends on how Dirk/Parsons/Monta is doing. Just like how Pops hacked to keep the ball out of Harden's hand, if it looks like one of them is starting to heat up, we should hack Rondo to keep the ball out of their hands.
I hate hacking strategies with a passion. As much as I want to win I'd feel kind of sick if we won that way.
I like the idea of hack a Rondo when used at the right time. The first time Dallas intentionally fouls we should sub in all our best free throw shooters and just do the same **** right back to them.
The NBA has done that before. Originally, the 1st 4 fouls resulted in 1 free throw unless it was a shooting foul. Teams would intentionally foul to give up 1 point instead of 2 points. The NBA then changed to the present system.
As soon as they start that crap with Smoove and D12. I'd be doing it to Rondo. It'll send a message to the NBA
Not a fan of it. Keep the ball moving and keep the defensive pressure running on all cylinders at all times.
Unsportsmanlike, non-basketball tactic to try and stay in the game. I would be highly disappointed in the Rockets if they do that. Hack Rondo while he is actually handling the ball? By all means.
I would do it in the 4th quarter with a decent lead like a prior poster suggested. Why let the Mavs have a chance to come back with a barrage of threes? You don't even need to play defense or rebound, just put Rondo on the line so that Dirk can't pull some bs. I don't care that it's unsportsmanlike, we'll have to deal with it too. Popovich is the best coach in the game and does it. I'd be pissed if McHale didn't do the same thing.
I really hate the theory of intentionally forcing your opponent to relegate its offense to a poor FT shooter chuckin bricks. However, it was effective against us this season. You better believe you'll see the hack-a-Rocket strategy employed when Dallas goes down by 10 with 6 minutes left in the first quarter. It's pitiful, but we know it will happen. Making free throws will solve, but that is not our strength. With added playoff pressure, our team will probably shoot even worse from the line. We have to be ready to combat that strategy. We can make the strategy disliked by turning it right back at them as soon as they do it to us. Perhaps
What if we are down 10 with 6 minutes left in the 4th..... I'm for it in the right situation, but this is definitely a place where our 3 season ending injuries do hurt since you have less bodies to collect fouls.
