The NBA is cracking down on the latest iteration of hack-a-Shaq — the free throw “piggyback” foul popularized by Matthew Dellavadova and J.J. Redick this season.
Dellavedova. Climbing foul. https://t.co/vqIfcAnryB
— Aleksi Valavuori (@Valavuori) December 26, 2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpUUAGK8mkg
The league released a memo to all owners, general managers, officials and coaches Tuesday, alerting them that the play will now be considered under the rules used to evaluate a flagrant foul. The memo said players will still be free to commit fouls during free throw attempts, but will be assessed as flagrant if they meet the league’s criteria.
The memo cites the play’s dangerousness as reason for ushering in the change, but it is no secret the rise in popularity of the hack-a-player strategy hurts the NBA’s watchability when it is employed.
Commissioner Adam Silver already changed his mind about fixing the problem since the season started. Back in October, Silver said he was conflicted on fixing the strategy, but said two weeks ago he increasingly thinks a rule change needs to happen this offseason.
Silver is right. Coaches might find this strategy useful, but it sucks all the energy out of the game for both fans and the players. Fans are not tuning in to watch a free throw shooting contest, and the strategy distorts the purpose of the game itself. This latest memo is a step in the right direction.
