Exactly how does the Hack-A-Shaq rule work?

[DeAnna]

I know it's in the last 2 minutes of the game, but does it apply only to him? What about other poor free-throw shooters? Do they get the same benefit?

 

[nashman]

No it only applies to Shaq...

 

[nashman]

j/k

 

[Cheesewater]

I had an idea a few years ago that a rule should be adopted to allow the fouled team the option of shooting the free throws or taking the ball out with the shot clock reset to :14 (provided the fouled party was not in the act of shooting). That would neuter the Hack-a-Shaq right quick.

 

[Darth Llama]

I know it's in the last 2 minutes of the game, but does it apply only to him? What about other poor free-throw shooters? Do they get the same benefit?

It's the same for all players. If you foul any player in the last 2 min of the game, they must have the ball, or be attempting to obtain the ball. Off Ball fouls don't work in the last 2 minutes because the offensive team gets free throws and maintains possession if the offensive player did not have the ball.

The Hack-A-Shaq doesn't work, it never has. Don Nelson had this brilliant idea that when the game was on the line, if Shaq caught the ball in the low post you foul him immediately to send him to the line for 2. The theory is that he is high percentage on a dunk, but he's going to at best average 50% on his free throws. If you break down the average though on even the highest scoring teams in the League over the course of a season, they generally average about 1.1 point per possession, making the hack a Shaq completely pointless.

If they foul Shaq outside of the last 2 min, they send him to the line rather he has the ball or not and stop the clock. If they foul him inside the last 2 min, he must have the ball, or the Suns would send Oneal to the line, then keep the ball. That's the gist of how it works.

 

[DeAnna]

Ah, so it has to be an off-ball foul - gotcha. Too bad they won't have a Hack-A-Skinny rule since he's just a bench guy.

 

[arwillan]

i thought the same thing about the points per possession thing. Nelson is a mad scientist and this was just another thing he tried. shaq can almost always get 1/2 from the line so you really aren't doing yourself a whole lot of good. i guess you could argue that rather giving up a sure 2 on a layup/dunk you're giving up a pretty sure 1/2 and a possible 2/2 from the line. either way, there are very few situations where that strategy can be used effectively.

 

[Darth Llama]

I have seen the Hack-A-Shaq so many times from Shaq's Laker days, and I just laughed every time they tried it. It never failed, Shaq would suck at the line all day, then as soon as the Hack A Shaq started, Shaq would start making them. Shaq never shoots better then he does when the Hack A Shaq is implemented. That strategy has never worked. He really does hit them when it counts.

 

[WuRaider]

I have seen the Hack-A-Shaq so many times from Shaq's Laker days, and I just laughed every time they tried it. It never failed, Shaq would suck at the line all day, then as soon as the Hack A Shaq started, Shaq would start making them. Shaq never shoots better then he does when the Hack A Shaq is implemented. That strategy has never worked. He really does hit them when it counts.

It worked this time. They had to sit Shaq until the 2min mark came up.

 

[Darth Llama]

It worked this time. They had to sit Shaq until the 2min mark came up.

Well, usually it doesn't work.

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

This last game was different. They did it prior to the 2min mark, sent shaq to the line, which rendered the offense completely useless. 3 consecutives times down the court the suns did not have an offensive set. Shaq missed too many free throws and dantoni had to bench him (giving in to popovich's plan). The spurs then proceeded to penetrate the paint and dish it to duncan against a shaqless suns, all while the suns decided to become stagnant offensively.

This turn of events is what brought the spurs back into the game, and a lethal combination of bad luck, boneheaded moves and the inferior coaching from dantoni is what sealed the game for them.

However, with all those odds against the suns, it still took 2 overtimes for us to lose it.

Dantoni should be embarrassed for being so egregiously outcoached.

 

[Treesquid PhD]

It only worked in the last game because Oberto had fouls to burn, if he gets called on his flops that hack a Shaq never happens. Pop was playing with house money.

This is why the NBA can be fixed, early fouls on key guys are the key in any playoff game, they got the Suns early in game 1 and bank on the spurs getting some early foul hate in game 2.

 

[Cheesewater]

It only worked in the last game because Oberto had fouls to burn, if he gets called on his flops that hack a Shaq never happens. Pop was playing with house money.

This is why the NBA can be fixed, early fouls on key guys are the key in any playoff game, they got the Suns early in game 1 and bank on the spurs getting some early foul hate in game 2.

After those intentional fouls by (Oh Boy!)Oberto, I was shocked, SHOCKED to see he only had 3 fouls. Ridiculous.

 

[Treesquid PhD]

After those intentional fouls by (Oh Boy!)Oberto, I was shocked, SHOCKED to see he only had 3 fouls. Ridiculous.

Exactly! and if Oberto already has 3 like Amare and Shaq you cannot do Hack a Shaq, who would pop bring in to cover Amare and Shaq at the end? D'antoni would just pound it, game over.

I am telling you guys, Oberto or Duncan gets 2 in the first, game 2.

 

[arwillan]

Exactly! and if Oberto already has 3 like Amare and Shaq you cannot do Hack a Shaq, who would pop bring in to cover Amare and Shaq at the end? D'antoni would just pound it, game over.

I am telling you guys, Oberto or Duncan gets 2 in the first, game 2.

oberto getting 2 doesn't change much. they can just bring in KT who is a better defender and who can actually shoot the ball well. we need those fouls to go on duncan.

 

[The Big Cactus]

I have seen the Hack-A-Shaq so many times from Shaq's Laker days, and I just laughed every time they tried it. It never failed, Shaq would suck at the line all day, then as soon as the Hack A Shaq started, Shaq would start making them. Shaq never shoots better then he does when the Hack A Shaq is implemented. That strategy has never worked. He really does hit them when it counts.

I remember watching that as well. I think that I remember a game seven against Portland where he made quite a few big free throws down the stretch.

 

[The Big Cactus]

oberto getting 2 doesn't change much. they can just bring in KT who is a better defender and who can actually shoot the ball well. we need those fouls to go on duncan.

That's true. Personally, I am much more concerned about Amare and Shaq staying out of it, than I am about getting the Spurs into it. If the bigs on both teams have few fouls going into the fourth, I like the Suns' chances.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I have seen the Hack-A-Shaq so many times from Shaq's Laker days, and I just laughed every time they tried it. It never failed, Shaq would suck at the line all day, then as soon as the Hack A Shaq started, Shaq would start making them. Shaq never shoots better then he does when the Hack A Shaq is implemented. That strategy has never worked. He really does hit them when it counts.

yeah, I rarely remember it working either. I'd be curious to see if DA would have taken him out if he didn't have 5 fouls at that point. If it comes down to that in the next game and Shaq's only got 4, DA CAN NOT bend to Pop's will. Personally, I think it was a mistake leaving him for as long as he did as the Spurs just went to town on our defense. Hopefully... eh, this game just needs to get here already!

 

[arwillan]

That's true. Personally, I am much more concerned about Amare and Shaq staying out of it, than I am about getting the Spurs into it. If the bigs on both teams have few fouls going into the fourth, I like the Suns' chances.

absolutely.

amare and shaq with no foul trouble > Duncan and oberto with no foul trouble.