tlongII
04-22-2014, 10:03 AM
http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/index.ssf/2014/04/hack-a-howard_successful_for_trail_blazers_in_game.html#i ncart_m-rpt-1
http://imgick.oregonlive.com/home/olive-media/pgmain/img/oregonian/photo/2014/04/-cac9f945a9cb473a.jpg
HOUSTON — Advantage: Stotts.
One game into the Trail Blazers-Houston Rockets best-of-seven Western Conference playoff series, it’s safe to coach Terry Stotts has edged his counterpart, Kevin McHale, in tactical maneuvers.
Stotts’ decision to attack James Harden with Wesley Matthews’ post-ups early had Harden reeling and forced McHale to adjust. Stotts’ defensive strategies, including opting to guard center Dwight Howard one-on-one, were effective. But his most successful — and best-timed — move came late in the fourth quarter, when he decided to Hack-a-Howard in crunch time.
With four minutes, 30 seconds left in regulation, the Rockets led 96-87 and the Blazers were in desperate need of a spark. So Stotts directed Nicolas Batum to foul Rockets center Dwight Howard and send him to his personal house of horrors: The free throw line.
“Like I said before the game, it’s situational,” Stotts said. “If I think it’s in our best interest to do it, we will. I had no qualms about using it going into the game, and I feel the same way now.”
Howard, a notoriously poor free throw shooter who shot 54.7 percent during the regular season, was initially unfazed by the move on Sunday. He calmly made both of his attempts after Batum fouled him, giving the Rockets a 98-87 lead.
But that unraveled in a hurry. The Blazers fouled Howard intentionally on the next two possessions and he bricked all four free throws. The sellout crowd of 18,240 went from delirious to disturbed and you could sense momentum swing in the building. The Blazers used the emotional twist to reel off a quick 11-0 run, tying the game and — ultimately — forcing overtime, where they eked out a 122-120 victory.
“That changed (the game) somewhat,” McHale said of the Hack-a-Howard tactic. “We missed some free throws. They came just pushing it down and we didn’t defend … then we were kind of back on our heels. They pushed it up on us.”
On Monday afternoon, Stotts offered no apologies for employing the tactic. Some argue it taints the game and has no place. Others insist all is fair in love and war. Some say both arguments have merit. Earlier this season, San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said he “hates” the strategy and would be in favor of eliminating it with NBA rules — but admitted he would use it in a heartbeat if he thought it would help him win.
Stotts has a different take. He sees no need for a rule change because the tactic is used so infrequently. By his estimation, there are 1,200 games in an NBA season and you can count the number of times a Hack-a-Howard-like move comes into play with your fingers and toes.
“How many times was it used in 1,200 games? Ten or 20 times?” he said. “I think it adds excitement to the game, to be honest. When (Howard) made his first two (free throws), the crowd erupted. And it adds interest. It adds interest whether we’re going to foul him or not. It adds interest whether he’s going to make them or not. I think it adds a little drama.”
What does Howard have to say about it all?
On Monday, when The Oregonian asked him how many free throws he attempted during the Rockets’ afternoon practice at the Toyota Center, he ignored the question.
At the very least, Stotts was right about the drama.
http://imgick.oregonlive.com/home/olive-media/pgmain/img/oregonian/photo/2014/04/-cac9f945a9cb473a.jpg
HOUSTON — Advantage: Stotts.
One game into the Trail Blazers-Houston Rockets best-of-seven Western Conference playoff series, it’s safe to coach Terry Stotts has edged his counterpart, Kevin McHale, in tactical maneuvers.
Stotts’ decision to attack James Harden with Wesley Matthews’ post-ups early had Harden reeling and forced McHale to adjust. Stotts’ defensive strategies, including opting to guard center Dwight Howard one-on-one, were effective. But his most successful — and best-timed — move came late in the fourth quarter, when he decided to Hack-a-Howard in crunch time.
With four minutes, 30 seconds left in regulation, the Rockets led 96-87 and the Blazers were in desperate need of a spark. So Stotts directed Nicolas Batum to foul Rockets center Dwight Howard and send him to his personal house of horrors: The free throw line.
“Like I said before the game, it’s situational,” Stotts said. “If I think it’s in our best interest to do it, we will. I had no qualms about using it going into the game, and I feel the same way now.”
Howard, a notoriously poor free throw shooter who shot 54.7 percent during the regular season, was initially unfazed by the move on Sunday. He calmly made both of his attempts after Batum fouled him, giving the Rockets a 98-87 lead.
But that unraveled in a hurry. The Blazers fouled Howard intentionally on the next two possessions and he bricked all four free throws. The sellout crowd of 18,240 went from delirious to disturbed and you could sense momentum swing in the building. The Blazers used the emotional twist to reel off a quick 11-0 run, tying the game and — ultimately — forcing overtime, where they eked out a 122-120 victory.
“That changed (the game) somewhat,” McHale said of the Hack-a-Howard tactic. “We missed some free throws. They came just pushing it down and we didn’t defend … then we were kind of back on our heels. They pushed it up on us.”
On Monday afternoon, Stotts offered no apologies for employing the tactic. Some argue it taints the game and has no place. Others insist all is fair in love and war. Some say both arguments have merit. Earlier this season, San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said he “hates” the strategy and would be in favor of eliminating it with NBA rules — but admitted he would use it in a heartbeat if he thought it would help him win.
Stotts has a different take. He sees no need for a rule change because the tactic is used so infrequently. By his estimation, there are 1,200 games in an NBA season and you can count the number of times a Hack-a-Howard-like move comes into play with your fingers and toes.
“How many times was it used in 1,200 games? Ten or 20 times?” he said. “I think it adds excitement to the game, to be honest. When (Howard) made his first two (free throws), the crowd erupted. And it adds interest. It adds interest whether we’re going to foul him or not. It adds interest whether he’s going to make them or not. I think it adds a little drama.”
What does Howard have to say about it all?
On Monday, when The Oregonian asked him how many free throws he attempted during the Rockets’ afternoon practice at the Toyota Center, he ignored the question.
At the very least, Stotts was right about the drama.