Hoops Habit
Fansided

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 19, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer during the game against the San Antonio Spurs in game one of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports /

It Doesn’t Even Work

You want to know the best part about Pop using the Hack-A-DJ strategy so early in Game 1? It didn’t work. Jordan only made five of his 12 free throws for the game, but in the biggest irony of ironies, the Clippers (17-for-28, 60.7 percent) actually outshot the Spurs (14-for-26, 53.8 percent) from the line.

Lob City won the game in a 107-92 blowout, and I’d be lying if I said the Hack-A-DJ strategy didn’t play a factor in this game. It actually helped the Clippers, because with the game slowed down, the starters got to rest a little bit more. Given how terrible Los Angeles’ bench is, preserving the starters’ legs helped the Clips go on their big runs in the second half.

Karma, you sweet son of a bitch.

Now, to be fair, Pop didn’t resort to Hack-A-DJ in the second half. He’s also not the only coach in the NBA to use that strategy. He didn’t come up with it and this has been an issue since Dennis Rodman‘s time, so don’t think this is some anti-Spurs piece bashing on one of the greatest coaches in NBA history. As we mentioned before, it’s his prerogative to use that game plan as long as it’s not expressly forbidden.

But when was the last time you can remember a team successfully employing that strategy and it actually working? The only example I can think of is San Antonio’s first round series against the Phoenix Suns when Pop used it against Shaquille O’Neal to win the series after Shaq went 9-for-20 from the line in Game 5.

Chances are, if you’re having to resort to Hack-A-Shaq, you’re not in a good position to win the game. Luckily, teams can’t intentionally foul off the ball in the final two minutes of games. I have no problem admitting that if they could, this would be a different discussion.

That being said, it this strategy contradicts the spirit of competition, slows down the game for fans AND it usually isn’t successful, why in God’s green earth should I — or anyone else, for that matter — feel the need to defend it?

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