Did Pop learn not to Hack-a-shaq yet?

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

On paper it didn't look like it worked, but the explosion that was Tony Parker in the 4th was a result of the extra time it bought. And with Nash and STAT on the bench at the end of the third it was no secret the ball was destined for Shaq down on the block. In the last two games of the regular season that was the exact time when the wheels completely fell off for the Spurs. The Suns fed Shaq the ball, got in a rhythm, and never looked back. This let the keep that from happening and kept their bigs out of foul trouble by giving them at least some control over foul distribution.

[Kori Ellis]

In the post game, Pop said that Shaq made his Hack-a-Shaq strategy look totally stupid tonight.

[jmard5]

I'm no coach, but with Stoudemire and Nash at the bench. Spurs should have used the opportunity to extend the lead. Should they want Shaq to shoot FTs, make him earn it when they passed the ball to him into the low block. Play honest defense and make the Suns work for their points. Suns were a little disorganized during that stretch.

[Whisky Dog]

In the post game, Pop said that Shaq made his Hack-a-Shaq strategy look totally stupid tonight.

You think Pop's going to say "Even though he made the FT it did exactly what I wanted by buying my stars extra rest and keeping my bigs out of foul trouble on the low block"?

Come on, you know better than that. Pop is one cold, calculated general. He's not going to give his reasoning away, especially since D'Antoni is probably too stupid to realize it anyway.

[Loose Cannon]

Shaq gets into a rhythm if you keep fouling him one shot after another. If you just foul him every other possession, at LEAST, MAYBE it works.

We would have held the Suns to under 10 in the quarter for SURE if we don't do this stupid stuff.

THE ONLY thing I can think of, in terms of why the did this, was to throw off the Suns' offense. It messed up their offense and was a psyche job.

Points-wise, I think shaq scored something like 5 out of 6, which is more than I would hope they would have scored on those possessions.

This strategy, unless used rarely, fails.

Please Pop, make it stop.

Wow, you're a ing idiot.

Look at the scoreboard. Look at what Pop did at the slightest hint of the Suns regaining momentum in the second half.

Spurs dominated from the get go and Pop headed the run off by slowing the game down and making Shaq shoot. And it worked like a mother er.

Take those 20 seconds you took to start this thread and try to grow an opposable thumb. Please.

[BiZNicK]

Damn shaq was on fire for a while, hitting those turnaround hookshots... he won't be getting that in the next game.

[Whisky Dog]

This tactic was about rest tonight to ensure the legs were there for the 4th. TD and Manu got several minutes of not having to play D while TP got a long stay on the bench.

Absolutely Brilliant.

[BonnerDynasty]

It's a weird feeling seeing Spurs do it again and again, but I love the idea of putting Shaq on the line to back up his talk the two previous days.

[Borosai]

Sure, it didn't actually work, but it did keep the Suns from getting into a rhythm as a team. It was DooDooButter at the line and everyone else watching. In the end, I think it helped a bit.

[Princess Pimp]

Cheap artists, floppers and Shaq-a-hackers!

[jmard5]

Cheap artists, floppers and Shaq-a-hackers!

Is that all you can come up with?

[MannyIsGod]

The only time it failed was in the 3rd. In the 1st and 2nd quarters it got Shaq off the court for the last minute of each quarter which in turn gave the Spurs some easy inside scores.