Throughout the Lakers season, opposing teams like the San Antonio Spurs and Orlando Magic implored the hack-a-Howard strategy in hopes of slowing the Lakers offense down. However, when these two teams used the strategy, Howard stepped to the line and knocked down more free throw shots than if he was fouled normally.
—- Check out Lakers big man Dwight Howard’s player bio here! —-
Last night, in Game 5 of the Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder series, Thunder coach Scott Brooks opted for the hack-a-Asik. Rockets center Omer Asik is only a 52.7 percent free throw shooter and it seemed like a sound strategy as the Thunder tried to close out the series.
However, the strategy backfired as Asik went 13-18 from the line and let the debate rage on as to whether or not the strategy should be banned. We asked Lakers Nation what they thought of the strategy:
The response seems pretty strong as 71 percent believe that the NBA should consider changing the rule in the off-season. With the way the rule is written now, teams can intentionally foul a player until the final two minutes of the fourth quarter.
There are two sides to the argument, one that says it’s a sound strategy and the other believes that using the strategy is a sign of weakness. Once the strategy is used, the game comes to a grinding halt and the entertainment value of the NBA game decreases.
For Laker fans, when teams uses the strategy on Dwight, groans and boos are heard throughout Staples Center. It seems doubtful that commissioner David Stern would outlaw the strategy all-together, but it’s definitely something the league will look at in the off-season.
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