I think Coaches only resort to this tactic when they know they are out matched; it's a desperation move. I don't think the Rockets are out matched.
They were desperate since they weren't confident that they would be able to keep the lead without resorting to hack-a-josh tactic.
No, it will mess up our flow as well. Also, not sure about the exact stats, but I believe our offense is much more efficient when we grab rebound and go on a fast break before defense can be set. If we implement hack-a-rondo strategy, our offense will stall as well.
Ugh, I'm going to be disgusted if this turns into a Hack a whoever series. I really hope both teams stay away from it, but I don't see that happening.
They were desperate to get the highest seeding possible. Those two wins against us, 9 times out of 10, would have resulted in the Spurs with the #2 seed. We lucked out and the dice fell in our favor.
Our defence is fantasic. Of course we shouldnt hack. Believe in Howard, ariza, brewer and harden to get it done.
This. It will make it such an ugly game that the league will be forced to change the rules next season.
Let him try a few freethrows. If he is on an off-night, hack him. Rondo is going to be defending Harden most of the time. Hack him and Tyson Chandler will be foul trouble. In turn, the Mavs is in trouble defending the paint the Rockets as whole. If he's off at the line, hack him early.
The tactic is not much different from other strategies to expose any player's weakness. True, it changes the flow of the game and is boring, but conceptually isn't different from expoiting a player's lack of lateral speed/movement. It's just another weakness. I don't like it, though, as a strategy because it does make the team employing it seem desperate earlier than normal -- we can't beat you with "normal" play, so we'll exploit your player(s) poor FT shooting. It is similar to fouling immediately on each possession at the end of a game when hope is dwindling to make up point differential. But at the end of a game it is expected in that scenario. I would be tempted to combat the strategy in another way. It has been discussed that if you can make at least 50% of the FT's in that situation, you'll generally be O.K. So I would use this strategy: If the player misses the first FT, purposely miss the second with a lhard throw against the backboard, such that your players have a decent chance of getting that rebound, and thus an extended possession. After all, on most missed second FT's the defending team usually gets the rebound anyway. On the other hand, If he makes the first FT, then shoot to make the second also.
Don't use it. I want to watch basketball, not that crap. I hope the spurs use it a lot against the clippers. Then maybe we will finally see change. As much as i love the nba, there are some rules that are completely stupid.
I have no complaints on the ethics or the aesthetics of hacking bad free throw shooters. It's a legal play that might provide a tactical advantage. If we gain an advantage by doing it, then do it.
Funniest part of the game was when McHale had his guys hack Rondo in retaliation to the hack-a-Smith. I love that he waited until Carlisle hacked Smith. Sent a message that the Rockets are prepared to stage a free throw contest if that's what they want.
Its actually perfect to be able to hack Rondo bc as soon as they hack a Rocket, you hack Rondo and take out whoever they are hacking
