The NBA talked about possibly changing the rules surrounding the ‘Hack-a-Shaq' strategy of intentionally fouling poor free throw shooters in the bonus for a couple years now, and they finally pulled the trigger yesterday.
Three adjustments were made to the rulebook:
- The rule for away-from-the-play fouls made in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime resulting in free throws will now be expanded to the last two minutes of all quarters.
- Defensive fouls on inbounds plays will be treated the same as any away-from-the-play foul.
- The blatant fouling strategy of jumping on an opposing player’s back will presumptively be called a flagrant foul immediately. Up until now, such plays were subject to flagrant calls but were not automatic.
By not completely taking away the Hack-a-Shaq strategy, commissioner Adam Silver hoped to appease those on both sides of the debate. Some executives have been worried about the speed of the game being slowed to the point where its brand is diminished, while others have been concerned with not being able to punish poor free throw shooters for their ineptness from the line.
Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is a part of the latter group.
When asked about the changes by Tim MacMahon, Cuban “told ESPN he voted against new deliberate foul rules. ‘Rewarding incompetence is never a good business strategy.'”
Cuban has spoken out a few times against altering the rules on this subject in the past. We'll see how much of a difference these new guidelines actually make this coming season.
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