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The NBA Needs To Address Hack-A-Shaq Strategy

By Gerald Bourguet

Feb 9, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6) shoots a free-throw against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 9, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6) shoots a free-throw against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 15, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich against the New Orleans Pelicans during a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans defeated the Spurs 108-103 and earned the 8th seed in the Western Conference Playoffs. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

Enough is enough. After watching Game 1 of the first round playoff series between the Los Angeles Clippers and San Antonio Spurs last night, my patience as a fan of the game of basketball has officially run out. The NBA isn’t a perfect league, and it will never be a perfect league.

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But if commissioner Adam Silver doesn’t do something about the unbearable “Hack-A-Shaq” strategy, professional basketball will suffer for it.

Hear me out before you resort to your probably-already-formulated opinion. Everyone has a strong opinion on intentionally fouling poor free throw shooters to send them to the line, but we can all agree it’s reaching a breaking point. Digital wars are raging on Twitter over this very subject, so it’s time to take a look at the strategy, its merits and its shortcomings.

If you haven’t changed your mind by the end, well, I don’t know what else I can do for you. But it’s time we opened our eyes to the reasons this game plan is ruining the enjoyability of our beloved sport.

Next: The Nature Of The NBA