Would you, Could you Hack my Shaq?
The words "Hack-a-Shaq" are designed to draw fear in the fans of teams he's played for and in fantasy Shaq owners across the internets. However, Coach D'Antoni, the offensive genius that he is, has it right when he says, Would you, Could you Hack my Shaq?
Hack-a-Shaq can be crippling when your Suns need to close a gap or need to maintain a lead at the end of games. It's at these times when your Suns need 10 points in 90 seconds that 1-for-2 doesn't cut it. Likewise, when you opponent, say the Spurs, are down 10 wants to shoot the moon by trading 3's for Shaq's 1-for-2, then you have problems.
Another good time to Hack-my-Shaq is when he's ready to rock the rim with a 99% FG%. This is a smart play to hack and you have to do every time.
However, it's expanded use in this Suns-Spurs series has been bizarre. Hacking my Shaq in the middle of the game? In the backcourt??
The Suns have shot about 43% FG%. Further, the renowned Spurs defense allows only 0.477% eFG% (by 82games.com) on the season.
Now, Shaq is shooting his career average in this series, about 53%. Well, shoot. That's actually better than our eFG%! Again I say, well, Shaq, shoot!
One side issue that seems unjustifiable to me is the change in officiating during Game 3. Why not just enforce palming violations now? Why not foul out all the leagues' top PGs in the first quarter of each playoff game?
That's not the way the law works in the USA, we don't prosecute all those old silly stupid laws on the books, although I suppose we could. I'm not saying the lane violation is a stupid one, but the timing and secrecy of the enforcement of it is cowardly. That's another aspect is just how cowardly the whole act is by the league and the Spurs - common courtesy in the change of how a game is called it for the referees to inform both teams what they're calling, as they do in preseason and often before games.
But who cares about the Spurs pulling a Mark Cuban? Shaq did fine through the Hack-a-Shaq ambushes and may actually shoot free throws better because of it.
So for a 53% eFG%, I say, would you, could you, Hack my Shaq?
EDIT: BTW, I'd like to say I called it right here, two months ago, regarding Shaq's expected FT.
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30 comments
Comments
Moving screens
just another foul that’s called VERY inconsistently…drives me nuts everytime its called only to see it not called the next three quarters of play.
Blogging Suns Basketball
by Phoenix Stan on Apr 28, 2008 10:22 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, when do you think the last lane violation was called in the NBA
I’d like to know that fact!
Where doubting Thomases believe
by ZonaFlash on Apr 28, 2008 10:24 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Inconsistency
Not to mention the fact that Shaq is fouled about 25 times per game, but the stupid refs only call a third of them because they somehow have unilaterally decided that it is their responsibility to even out a game where a 7’1, 330 lb Shaq is guarded by 6’10, 240 lb center wannabes.
I can’t believe I’m saying this, but the only way to defend Shaq is to foul him. So call all of the fouls. I would like to see Duncan, Oberto, Horry and whoever else foul out, who cares about the free throws.
'07-'08 Suns: It's clobberin' time!
by Hawk42 on Apr 28, 2008 10:55 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
shaq gives as good as he gets. come on.
has there been any news coming out about the lane violation thing? you guys act like it’s a foregone conclusion the spurs “forced” the league to enforce it.
i remember a game during the season when joey crawford whistled duncan for taking longer than 10 seconds to shoot his free throw. was that a conspiracy drawn up by the other team or just an asshole ref?
you ain't a beauty but hey you're all right.
by kalone on Apr 28, 2008 11:54 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nah, it's pretty clear that the Spurs called it in
Along with that request to have LB suspended.
Where doubting Thomases believe
by ZonaFlash on Apr 28, 2008 11:56 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Can't blame them though
They can call in all the crap they want. I am sure the Suns do as well.
But its like JVG said – if you aren’t going to call it all year, don’t start now.
Its a hard enough game to officiate without these obvious cases of inconsistent application of the rules. Its just hurts the league’s overall credibility.
Blogging Suns Basketball
by Phoenix Stan on Apr 28, 2008 12:31 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
speaking of nba and inconsistencies
they (nba) didn’t suspend kidd for his foul on Pargo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJFjcJq0-rQ
but did suspend amare and diaw last yr, f….ing nba is dumb as a brick sometimes…..good thing I’m a stubborn fan
by be-the-ball on Apr 28, 2008 4:00 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah.
I’m not sure how that goes without a suspension. It’s a weird play because it looks like he initially plays the ball, and then decides “Aw, screw it, I’m breaking this guy’s head.”
by Mike Lisboa on Apr 28, 2008 10:21 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
if pargo didn't have the brains and quickness
to use his hands, it would’ve been really ugly.
by be-the-ball on Apr 28, 2008 11:01 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
thats bull
watch the game before you make comments like that, believe me, shaq gets hammered worse than any player in the history of the nba, you just don’t notice it because he doesn’t fall to the floor if the wind blows….wait…thats the spurs I’m thinking of…my bad
by be-the-ball on Apr 28, 2008 4:02 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
jeez, you’re right. i really should watch the games before i comment on them. you should rename yourself “oldsage” with a penetrating wit like that.
by the way, before i read this post, i was all geared up to blame the refs for the spurs loss in game 4, but then i realized that would just make me a whiny suns fan.
you ain't a beauty but hey you're all right.
by kalone on Apr 28, 2008 6:57 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
don’t take my last post out of context. i’d like to talk strictly basketball, but it’s hard if you’re going to be a douche bag.
you ain't a beauty but hey you're all right.
by kalone on Apr 28, 2008 6:59 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
alright...i came across too strong on my comment...
sorry, I just used to think very little of shaq when he was on the lakers, but feel badly for not seeing how badly he was constantly fouled. Plus, I’ve heard from numerous people in the nba say shaq is fouled more often, and harder than anyone they’ve seen…that’s all. I am sorry though…I should’ve taken the time to word it better…(I’m not being sarcastic…i mean it)
by be-the-ball on Apr 28, 2008 7:18 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Context?
I didn’t see be-the-ball making an ad hominem attack on you.
Maybe the language was terse, but there was nothing personal there.
Mmmmm ... Guinness
by JSun on Apr 29, 2008 3:42 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
or coming onto the blog of another team
saying a respected guy there is being a douchebag.
douchebag.
Where doubting Thomases believe
by ZonaFlash on Apr 29, 2008 3:51 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not really
If Shaq gave as good as he gets, someone would have been maimed by now.
'07-'08 Suns: It's clobberin' time!
by Hawk42 on Apr 29, 2008 7:04 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Shaq the Defensive End
A comparable situation to Shaq in football:
What if there was a 6’8, 360 lb defensive end that timed a 4.5 in the 40. Lets say he could lift more than Larry Allen did, and had Dwight Freeney’s spin move down. He could sack the quarterback from either side, and his arms were like logs that knocked running backs down in their tracks.
That guy would be held on every down. Would the officials call it? I don’t think so. How ridiculous would it be if the official only called holding in the last 5 minutes? Or when the opposing coach requested it?
'07-'08 Suns: It's clobberin' time!
by Hawk42 on Apr 28, 2008 11:23 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
How many rules were made to even the game against shaq? =)
Where doubting Thomases believe
by ZonaFlash on Apr 28, 2008 11:25 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
John Hollinger chat today
Jack (Chicago): A lot of people are making a big deal about hack-a-shaq, do you really think it made that much of a difference in terms of the outcome of Spurs-Suns?
John Hollinger: (4:36 PM ET ) Pretty much changed Game 1, which pretty much changed the entire series. So I'd go with an emphatic yes.
by TwinnerA on Apr 28, 2008 2:45 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
crunch time
I agree, but at the same time if its a close game, and outside the 2 min mark, do you still trust Shaq to make at least 1 of those 2 attempts, and furthermore, what if you’re down by more than 5 points, wouldn’t taking a field goal, be it a 2 or a 3, potentially have a higher percentage chance?
by dang on Apr 28, 2008 3:06 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Agreed.
I have to fall into the “Please, don’t hack my Shaq” camp. I’d rather see the Suns run their offense.
by Mike Lisboa on Apr 28, 2008 10:23 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Disruption
I really think it’s more about the disruption to the offense than anything.
I can live with one point per possession, but it just mucks everything else up.
Mmmmm ... Guinness
by JSun on Apr 28, 2008 11:24 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hackers beware
This strategy reminds me of lawyers who use loopholes and technicalities to change the course of trials. It stinks. I still say there’s no place for it if it is not part of the play. Hack him all you want if he has the ball or is setting screens of going for rebounds. But not if he is not even part of the play.
'07-'08 Suns: It's clobberin' time!
by Hawk42 on Apr 29, 2008 7:09 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
The only reasonable fix
Is an off-the-ball foul results in one free throw and possession. That would also dramatically change these silly end of game foul-fest situations which rarely result in the losing team winning…except when it does :)
Blogging Suns Basketball
by Phoenix Stan on Apr 29, 2008 10:01 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
9 out of 10 dentists agree
but the one that doesn’t is the fool running the nba…you ever notice how stern is one of those people that doesn’t look like a man or woman…just saying…
Were here at the exclusive Phoenix Suns restaurant, and today, we’ve secretly switched their normal coffee with attack-coffee, in hopes that the suns play with energy,
suns players reaction…wow…this tastes just like regular coffee..I can’t believe it@#$%
by be-the-ball on Apr 29, 2008 10:13 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
I live on procedural technicalities
Sometimes, occassionally, they pay off. Not usually, though.
I wish I could make a couple of hundred k a year just to tug on Shaq’s shorts. During Game 3, my brother and I were wondering why JV was in the game when Shaq was not. We figured it was Pop’s way of keeping Shaq on the bench.
It is frustrating, isn’t it? Fortunately for NBA fans, it has not gotten the point where it has obviously changed the landscape of the game. It helped in Game 1, but it wasn’t the deciding factor.
Stan’s right about the only reasonable fix.
One question: Does the two-and-the-ball also count in the last two minutes of the first half? (Not just the end of the game?)
Mmmmm ... Guinness
by JSun on Apr 29, 2008 3:40 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
end of game only...and final 2 min of OT
Blogging Suns Basketball
by Phoenix Stan on Apr 29, 2008 3:44 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
one small plus to the negative hack a shaq
it gets us in the bonus quicker, but, it’s still a bad rule I think. Allowing intentional fouling without an extra penalty…wonder if that will change…
by be-the-ball on Apr 29, 2008 4:36 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

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