Hack-a-Howard Strategy

[Dunc n Dave]

Here's an ESPN article on Howard and D'Antoni and how much they expect the SPurs to use Hack-A-Howard. I think Pop employs it more in L.A. than he does in San Antonio to take the crowd out of it.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Dwight Howard expects San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich to parade him to the foul line when the Los Angeles Lakers open up their playoff series with Game 1 on Sunday, and it doesn't faze him one bit.

"If they want to do that the whole series, God bless them," Howard said when asked about the Spurs using a "Hack-a-Howard" strategy on Friday. "There's nothing I can do about it but go up there and shoot the free throws. Even if I make them, they're still going to do it. So, that's not my concern. My concern is what I can control on the defensive end and then on the offensive end, just dominate. If they foul me, they foul me. We're going to make them pay."

Howard went 8-for-17 from the line in the Lakers' 91-86 win over the Spurs last week.

Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni has experience with Popovich using the "Hack-a-Whomever" scheme before. When D'Antoni's Phoenix Suns lost to the Spurs 4-1 in the first round in 2008, Shaquille O'Neal was repeatedly fouled and went 32-for-64 (50 percent) from the line in the five games.

"I'm sure they'll try it," D'Antoni said. "We worked on Dwight being evasive out there today so they couldn't catch him.

"But we'll just deal with it. He's going to make shots and he'll make his foul shots."

Rest of the story here:
http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/s...oy-hack-howard

[weebo]

Here's an ESPN article on Howard and D'Antoni and how much they expect the SPurs to use Hack-A-Howard. I think Pop employs it more in L.A. than he does in San Antonio to take the crowd out of it.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Dwight Howard expects San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich to parade him to the foul line when the Los Angeles Lakers open up their playoff series with Game 1 on Sunday, and it doesn't faze him one bit.

"If they want to do that the whole series, God bless them," Howard said when asked about the Spurs using a "Hack-a-Howard" strategy on Friday. "There's nothing I can do about it but go up there and shoot the free throws. Even if I make them, they're still going to do it. So, that's not my concern. My concern is what I can control on the defensive end and then on the offensive end, just dominate. If they foul me, they foul me. We're going to make them pay."

Howard went 8-for-17 from the line in the Lakers' 91-86 win over the Spurs last week.

Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni has experience with Popovich using the "Hack-a-Whomever" scheme before. When D'Antoni's Phoenix Suns lost to the Spurs 4-1 in the first round in 2008, Shaquille O'Neal was repeatedly fouled and went 32-for-64 (50 percent) from the line in the five games.

"I'm sure they'll try it," D'Antoni said. "We worked on Dwight being evasive out there today so they couldn't catch him.

"But we'll just deal with it. He's going to make shots and he'll make his foul shots."

Rest of the story here:
http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/s...oy-hack-howard

Howerd has sucked at free throw shooting his entire career and nothing he or D'antoni say now will change that.

[exstatic]

Count on it any time the LAL are in the bonus.

[Proxy]

but it's not entertaining

[Libri]

"I'm sure they'll try it," D'Antoni said. "We worked on Dwight being evasive out there today so they couldn't catch him.

[Arcadian]

The Spurs should foul Howard when they are winning. As Jeff van Gundy pointed out, this is the optimal way to do it, as it completely takes away the 3-pointer from the other team (which is the best way to erase a deficit).

[Chinook]

I'm just imagining Howard and Bonner playing tag while the other eight players are running normal sets. I didn't think D'Antoni could come up with a stupider gameplan that the mess he usually throws together, but he has now.

[Proxy]

"Dwight! Hey Dwight! Stop practicing free throws and let me teach you something about hide-and-seek!"

[sananspursfan21]

"We worked on Dwight being evasive out there today so they couldn't catch him.

Soooooo....they played tag instead of practicing. bodes well for SA

[chapnis]

Can't tell if D'Antoni is trying to make a funny or if he actually had Dwight running around.

[Darius Bieber]

Anyone who is against this strategy is really ignorant. This strategy is brilliant. If you don't like it, practice your free throws. You get paid multi-millions of dollars, you should be able to sink uncontested shots.

[Austin_Toros]

D'Antoni should be more concerned with why an elite NBA player hasn't improved in his weakest part of his game. This wouldn't be an issue if Dwight Howard could hit free throws.

[SupremeGuy]

It's great strategy. I'd do it whenever it's appropriate.

[100%duncan]

How could they not "catch" him. D'Antoni Failure forever

[jimbo]

How could they not "catch" him. D'Antoni Failure forever

Do you think you could catch an NBA athlete?

If bonner/blair/banes are doing it, he's not getting caught. Cojo could get him. Nando maybe.

"Dwight! Hey Dwight! Stop practicing free throws and let me teach you something about hide-and-seek!"

Because his problem is in his form, right?

[milkyway21]

D' Antoni's Phoenix Suns lost TWICE already to Popovich, in 2005 (Duncan dominating) & 2007(Suns with home court adv)...it would be so awesome if he'll (as Laker coach), lose again his year...ODD YEAR, we might get lucky again

after that controversial Horry foul on Nash, Manu & Nash nose injuiries, that Diaw/Amare' suspension I wonder what will be the next court drama this year...

just stay healthy Spurs

[100%duncan]

Do you think you could catch an NBA athlete?

If bonner/blair/banes are doing it, he's not getting caught. Cojo could get him. Nando maybe.



Because his problem is in his form, right?

Wow. You are dumb if you took that literally.

[jimbo]

Wow. You are dumb if you took that literally.

I'm from AMERICA. We speak ENGLISH

[100%duncan]

I'm from AMERICA. We speak ENGLISH

Yes but speaking is different from understanding. And what a pity I'm better than you in speaking your mother tongue.

[jimbo]

Yes but speaking is different from understanding. And what a pity I'm better than you in speaking your mother tongue.

Bro, you don't wanna know where your mother's tongue has been.

[D12]

Do it. I dare you.

D12 will knock em down because they actually count.

[Brunodf]

D' Antoni's Phoenix Suns lost TWICE already to Popovich, in 2005 (Duncan dominating) & 2007(Suns with home court adv)...it would be so awesome if he'll (as Laker coach), lose again his year...ODD YEAR, we might get lucky again

2008 too

[Plumblbw]

Can't tell if D'Antoni is trying to make a funny or if he actually had Dwight running around.

Yeah, he's definitely taking the p155 mate. I thought it was really funny.

[100%duncan]

Bro, you don't wanna know where your mother's tongue has been.

Comebacks have become so boring these days that I don't really want to wait for your reply tbh.

[LkrFan]

Why do the Spurs need to employ the Hack-a-Howard strategy - with a 2013 DPOY candidate on your roster - who just so happens to play the same position as Howard? Larry Brown never did it to Shaq when he had Mt Mutombo.