Report: No consensus among GMs to change Hack-a-Shaq rules
At their annual meeting Wednesday, NBA general managers reportedly developed no consensus opinion on changing rules to limit the "Hack-a-Shaq" strategy, CBS Sports reports.
Intentionally fouling poor free throw shooters has reemerged as a popular strategy during the playoffs. Los Angeles Clippers center and career 41.7% free-throw shooter DeAndre Jordan has shot 144 free throws in 12 games this postseason. He shot 14-34 from the line in Game 4 against the Houston Rockets.
According to CBS Sports, many general managers do not view "Hack-a-Shaq" as a pressing concern.
"There is not enough support to change it," one executive in the meeting said. "It's one of those perception is bigger than reality issues."
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CBS Sports reports that, per data presented to the general managers, 76% of all intentional fouls this year were committed on five players: Jordan, Dwight Howard, Joey Dorsey, Josh Smith and Andre Drummond.
Penalizing away-from-the-ball foul more harshly throughout the game — not just in the final two minutes and overtime — has been discussed as one disincentive to the Hack-a-Shaq strategy.
"Hack-a-Shaq" was coined in honor of former Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal, who shot 52.7% from the free-throw line in the regular season and 50.4% in the postseason over his 19-year career.
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- Alex Putterman
