I'm getting sick of this hack a shaq BS...

[K-State Spur]

It's a game changing kind of effectiveness. And it's weak sauce especially since the Suns were never able to recover from it in tonight's series deciding game, since no team has ever recovered from down 0-3.

I don't want any part of a Spurs team that ever has to use such a strategy, as anything more than a gimmick. Three straight games in which crucial momentum shifting moments were stifled was weak. It was painful to watch.

Call me a purist, but the game should be played not over burdened with free throws.

Call me a purist, but the best way to hurt teams' fouling is to knock down the shots. Crazy idea and all...

[anakha]

WGAF, We're Up 3-0 forum.

[DDS4]

All I can say is 3-0. You don't get ing style points for victories.

Like everyone stated before, it's not totally about Shaq making FTs. Its about disrupting the Suns offensive rhythm and preventing big runs at the Spurs.

Of course it's not pretty to see, but if you wanted pretty, you would be a Suns fan.

[DespЏrado]

reposting what I wrote in the other thread:
Oh and if you don't like the thread I made...Don't click it. Simple as that. Deep down inside I think everyone knows I'm right on this. TIMVP was quick to denounce it in his game thoughts.

It would have been nice to see the Spurs win playing straight up defense tonight, and that's something we as Spurs fans were robbed of tonight. We were robbed of a chance for a clean kill.

[Obstructed_View]

I agree but the Spurs are better a better team/ organization than the Suns in every way.

Why give a team that can suddenly score points any momentum going into the end of a period? Why give a team at home any chance to come back from a double digit deficit? Why assume that just because you are a better organization that another team can't beat you? Why let up when you have a chance to crush the spirit of a team that badly ing needs its spirit crushed?

Why stoop when we had their jugular in hand?

Since when is it "stooping"? Just when the Spurs do it? Seriously, get off your high horse. This has been going on for years. It's a tactic that's been used dozens of times, and it happens to be a big part of the reason the Spurs are now firmly in control of the series. And believe me, the sooner the Spurs get the out of this series, the better. Nothing good can come of this series going any longer than it has to. I say remember Juwan Howard and do everything within the boundaries of the rules to move onto the next round ASAP. If you don't like it, lobby to have the rule changed.

[Strike]

Wow. Is this what we're reduced to?

We're actually arguing about HOW THE SPURS WON THE ING GAME!!!

Pathetic.

[Just Joe]

I like what Van Gundy said about it tonight. He and Jackson were talking about whether a rule should be made to stop this kind of thing. He said something like you do not legislate a rule to make up for someone's lack of skill.

The thing is, you talk about being a purist. I'm a basketball purists, also, and being that horrible at making free throws pisses me off way more than this tactic. This guy is making enough money to put a little extra time in the gym shooting free throws. The fact that most junior high kids have a better free throw percentage than this guy is absolutely pathetic.

Also, you kind of answered your own question as to why it is used. Why not use a perfectly legal tactic on the Suns from which the Suns can't recover? It would be stupid not to, when it's been so effective. Why not use a perfectly legal tactic to crush the opponents momentum? What was Pops supposed to do while the Suns made their comeback? Should he use a tactic that he knows has been successful, or twiddle his thumbs like D'antoni would have done?

The fact that it works so well is a black mark against the Suns, not the Spurs. If the Suns were mentally tougher, then this wouldn't be an issue. The mental aspect of the game is just as important as the physical aspect. Teams have always tried to find new ways to get into the opponents heads, from calling a time out before a free throw to making a hard foul on someone who keeps coming into the lane a bit too easily.

[timvp]

I don't like Hack-a-Shaq but it has worked beautifully for all but the third quarter of Game 2. D'Antoni has helped it work at times (and so have the refs by calling Shaq for lane violations for the first time ever). I think the Spurs could would have won these games with or without Hack-a-Shaq so it's not too much of a concern. It's more just a funny ploy at this point than anything that is or isn't effective.

[Obstructed_View]

It would have been nice to see the Spurs win playing straight up defense tonight, and that's something we as Spurs fans were robbed of tonight. We were robbed of a chance for a clean kill.

What a load of BS. Win or go home. The Spurs have their sights set on loftier goals.

[carina_gino20]

Probably true. And it worked brilliantly. But why should we support a strategy whether it's used against us or by us that detracts from the game as a whole? Why should I support the use of something that gives the Spurs an advantage they didn't earn?

WTF? It's only an advantage because Shaq can't make freethrows. Whatever. So many people have tried explain it, but you still don't get it.

Why wouldn't I support a strategy that is perfectly legal and has been effective thus far in this series?

I'm outta here. Peace out.

[DespЏrado]

What a load of BS. Win or go home. The Spurs have their sights set on loftier goals.

Yeah and no one represents a threat to the Spurs in the West that the Suns did this series. Why not prove it by beating them straight up?

Oh well guess that's why I'm not payed millions to coach, but wtf ever. The Spurs won. I'm going to enjoy what was going to be a victory regardless, but I would have liked to see the Spurs gut it out with their defense. Again we could have beaten the Suns straight up but relying on a damn gimmick was just taking the cheap way out of what could have been an otherwise epic destruction of one of our most hated rivals.

Good for all the spurs fans in here who can enjoy the victory without my reservations.

[timvp]

DespЏrado might have a point in that 2007 will be viewed as "Suspension Asterisk" and 2008 could end up being view as "Hack-a-Shaq Asterisk". But F the media. They were riding the Suns' nvts coming into this series. They have to save face.

[greyforest]

respect for Shaq. Trust me, he'd have no respect for you.

He respects nothing but the paycheck and the celebrity. Nothing more. Hack his fat ass all god damn game if he can't make his ing throws.

yea that

[DespЏrado]

I like what Van Gundy said about it tonight. He and Jackson were talking about whether a rule should be made to stop this kind of thing. He said something like you do not legislate a rule to make up for someone's lack of skill.

The thing is, you talk about being a purist. I'm a basketball purists, also, and being that horrible at making free throws pisses me off way more than this tactic. This guy is making enough money to put a little extra time in the gym shooting free throws. The fact that most junior high kids have a better free throw percentage than this guy is absolutely pathetic.

Also, you kind of answered your own question as to why it is used. Why not use a perfectly legal tactic on the Suns from which the Suns can't recover? It would be stupid not to, when it's been so effective. Why not use a perfectly legal tactic to crush the opponents momentum? What was Pops supposed to do while the Suns made their comeback? Should he use a tactic that he knows has been successful, or twiddle his thumbs like D'antoni would have done?

The fact that it works so well is a black mark against the Suns, not the Spurs. If the Suns were mentally tougher, then this wouldn't be an issue. The mental aspect of the game is just as important as the physical aspect. Teams have always tried to find new ways to get into the opponents heads, from calling a time out before a free throw to making a hard foul on someone who keeps coming into the lane a bit too easily.

I agree with you, but that doesn't mean I like it. It's one of those things that I would rather the Spurs not have to rely on. And I think it was unwarranted in this game. We had the Suns number. They would have made a run but it wouldn't have stopped Parker and Manu from tearing them a new one...

[Obstructed_View]

Yeah and no one represents a threat to the Spurs in the West that the Suns did this series. Why not prove it by beating them straight up?

Um, they have. Three times in a row now.

but I would have liked to see the Spurs gut it out with their defense.

Then you should have been watching, because they have. Three times in a row now.

Again we could have beaten the Suns straight up but relying on a damn gimmick was just taking the cheap way out of what could have been an otherwise epic destruction of one of our most hated rivals.

No otherwise. It's an epic destruction. I'm not sure how a team that the Spurs so completely own is considered a rival.

Good for all the spurs fans in here who can enjoy the victory without my reservations.

Like anyone needs your approval.

[Obstructed_View]

DespЏrado might have a point in that 2007 will be viewed as "Suspension Asterisk" and 2008 could end up being view as "Hack-a-Shaq Asterisk". But F the media. They were riding the Suns' nvts coming into this series. They have to save face.

The only way 2008 becomes something-asterisk for the Spurs is if they and if they do so coming out of the most competetive western conference in history and can beat the Celtics on their home floor nobody's going to remember the extra window slamming humiliation that was hack a shaq.

[DespЏrado]

DespЏrado might have a point in that 2007 will be viewed as "Suspension Asterisk" and 2008 could end up being view as "Hack-a-Shaq Asterisk". But F the media. They were riding the Suns' nvts coming into this series. They have to save face.

My point exactly...not to say that the media should have any say in how the Spurs win because they have sucked during Duncan's entire career.

[Obstructed_View]

I agree with you, but that doesn't mean I like it. It's one of those things that I would rather the Spurs not have to rely on. And I think it was unwarranted in this game. We had the Suns number. They would have made a run but it wouldn't have stopped Parker and Manu from tearing them a new one...

I'm not sure why you keep insisting the Spurs were "relying" on it. I'm starting to understand why people are suggesting that you aren't a Spurs fan.

OMG: PP, is that you?

[DespЏrado]

Like anyone needs your approval.

Whatever floats your boat man. I didn't like it. If you did, good on you.

[Obstructed_View]

Whatever floats your boat man. I didn't like it. If you did, good on you.

Any win against the Suns is a good win, Princess.

[K-State Spur]

I agree with you, but that doesn't mean I like it. It's one of those things that I would rather the Spurs not have to rely on. And I think it was unwarranted in this game. We had the Suns number. They would have made a run but it wouldn't have stopped Parker and Manu from tearing them a new one...

There's not liking the strategy (which is semi-fair, even if I disagree with that opinion) and there is grossly over-representing its effect on this series. You're doing the latter.

[DespЏrado]

I'm not sure why you keep insisting the Spurs were "relying" on it. I'm starting to understand why people are suggesting that you aren't a Spurs fan.

OMG: PP, is that you?

I admit rely is to harsh a word. But we did use it, and to the outside observer I can see people saying we relied on it. And for once, I think they might have a legitimate gripe about the Spurs style because I sure as didn't like it.

[DespЏrado]

Any win against the Suns is a good win, Princess.

I've been around a lot longer than that ...and I will be here long after they go, but I just brought back an old screen name that I used to use on this board and one I have used since Spursreport was the main place to hang out before the rift.

[DespЏrado]

There's not liking the strategy (which is semi-fair, even if I disagree with that opinion) and there is grossly over-representing its effect on this series. You're doing the latter.

Sorry the thread was made during the game. I had no idea how long it was going to be our go to defense. But I think it was a bad call to bring it out tonight of all nights when we already were going to get the W. My argument was never that it changed the outcome of the series. But that it cheapened this particular game.

[Obstructed_View]

I admit rely is to harsh a word. But we did use it, and to the outside observer I can see people saying we relied on it. And for once, I think they might have a legitimate gripe about the Spurs style because I sure as didn't like it.

Giving a rat's ass about what the outside observers think is your first mistake. I'm way past giving a what anyone else thinks. The Spurs have absolutely nothing to prove to me, and what the rest of the world thinks. Again, if they don't like it, I'm sure they'll lobby to change the rule just because the Spurs happened to do it for the first time ever.

It's all mountains and molehills. I'm done being resentful of idiots trying to undermine the celebration of a great performance by my team.