Adam Silver leaning toward changing Hack-a-Shaq rule
NBA commissioner Adam Silver, like most bewildered viewers, is tired of seeing games interrupted by the dreaded Hack-a-Shaq strategy.
Silver said Thursday that he's leaning toward making changes to dissuade the intentional fouling tactic.
"I’m increasingly of the view that we will be looking to make some sort of change in that rule this summer," Silver told Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today on the NBA A to Z podcast.
Last October, Silver resisted change on the basis that the strategy was primarily employed as a deterrent against select players - Dwight Howard, Andre Drummond, and DeAndre Jordan in particular.
However, intentional fouling is at an all-time high this season, according to research compiled by ESPN's Kevin Pelton. In addition to hacking the typical centers who can't shoot, teams have even targeted guards like Rajon Rondo (57.4 percent free-throw shooting).
"Even for those who had not wanted to make the change, we’re being forced to that position just based on these sophisticated coaches understandably using every tactic available to them," Silver said. "It’s just not the way we want to see the game played."
The prevalence of the strategy has also increased dramatically for those familiar targets. Jordan toed the line 36 times in November and tied the previously held record for most free throws missed in a game. That dubious distinction would eventually fall to Drummond, who tried 34 free throws (missing 23) in January.
In that game, the Houston Rockets went so far as having end-of-bench swingman K.J. McDaniels foul Drummond five times in nine seconds to intentionally put themselves into the penalty at the outset of the third quarter.
Not only has intentional fouling increased its reach, savvier teams are also inventing new ways to circumvent rules. The current stipulation calls for teams to receive two shots and the ball if a player is intentionally fouled within the final two minutes of a game. However, teams are combating that by fouling players while they're setting screens, or boxing out for a rebound - plays in which they're technically "involved in the play" - so that they can avoid harsher penalties in crunch time.
Ultimately, Silver is concerned incessant free-throw shooting is hurting the league's product.
"Again, as I travel around the league, there’s that one school of thought 'Guys have got to make their free throws,'" Silver said. “But then at the end of the day, we are an entertainment property, and it’s clear that when you’re in the arena, that fans are looking at me, shrugging their shoulders with that look saying, 'Aren’t you going to do something about this?'"