RealGM

So, I was watching an old Jazz-Pistons game from 1978 that aired a few days ago on NBATV. On several occasions, players were given 3 free throws to make 2 and sometimes they needed all 3.

I have 2 questions about that rule

1. When did it end? When was that rule revised?

2. If a player did indeed need 3 to make 2, did all 3 count in his FT%?

Damn I never had a clue such a rule existed. thx for mentioning

Very interesting fact. If this is the case, guys like Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki and Ray Allen would probably shoot 100% from the free-throw line.

From Wiki:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_throw

Prior to the 1954-55 season, the NBA established the rule that a backcourt foul would result in a "three to make two" situation (up to three attempts to make two free throws) if the violating team was over the team foul limit.[4] By 1979, the rule had been extended to the penalty situation for flagrant fouls, fouls made in the act of shooting (resulting in a miss), and fouls due to the swinging of the elbows.[5] Prior to the 1981-82 season, this rule, as well as the related "two to make one" rule were abolished.



It's actually a good rule to prevent Hack a Shaqs, unless Shaq's having a really off day.

Flagrants are discouraged other ways now.

I kinda like this rule. It would be very interesting today.

i dont.

every player should make every FT they attempt. this is rewarding ineptitude

That rule is terrible.

Yes it'd be a good if you have Dwights,Rondos and Ben Wallaces on your team..

Luv those Knicks wrote:From Wiki:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_throw

Prior to the 1954-55 season, the NBA established the rule that a backcourt foul would result in a "three to make two" situation (up to three attempts to make two free throws) if the violating team was over the team foul limit.[4] By 1979, the rule had been extended to the penalty situation for flagrant fouls, fouls made in the act of shooting (resulting in a miss), and fouls due to the swinging of the elbows.[5] Prior to the 1981-82 season, this rule, as well as the related "two to make one" rule were abolished.



It's actually a good rule to prevent Hack a Shaqs, unless Shaq's having a really off day.

Flagrants are discouraged other ways now.

Thanks

The only question remaining is whether it would count in a player's FT %

Good thing they got rid of the rule

A rule like that would effectively turn a 90% shooter into a 98% shooter (98 points in 50 3-for-2 trips to the line) and it would turn a 50% shooter into a 69% shooter (69 points in 50 3-for-2 trips to the line).

Aki wrote:
every player should make every FT they attempt.

Really now.

Roscoe Sheed wrote:
2. If a player did indeed need 3 to make 2, did all 3 count in his FT%?

Yes.

Even stranger, today I was watching game 5 of the 1972 NBA finals on NBATV and on several occasions players only shot 1 free throw on shooting fouls until the opposing team was in the penalty. I never knew such a rule existed.

Chosen01 wrote:Yes it'd be a good if you have Dwights,Rondos and Ben Wallaces on your team..

It's also good if you have Ray Allen, Dirk, K.D., or Steve Nash on your team. They'd probably shoot 100%.

^ No. All three free throws counted in the percentage. If you needed three to make two, your percentage was 66.67%, not 100%. Why would you ignore the misses?

Percentages were probably lower overall because guys may have been less careful knowing they had an extra free throw if they missed one? That's speculation.

smith2373 wrote:

Chosen01 wrote:Yes it'd be a good if you have Dwights,Rondos and Ben Wallaces on your team..

It's also good if you have Ray Allen, Dirk, K.D., or Steve Nash on your team. They'd probably shoot 100%.

It would help them much less than bad free throw shooters. Ray Allen and Dirk would almost never use that rule - they normally make both free throws. Dwight Howard and Rondo, on the other hand, will get many extra attempts.

"3 to make 2"

so if you miss the first 2... do you get to take the third shot?

jts10 wrote:"3 to make 2"

so if you miss the first 2... do you get to take the third shot?

I think so

Theoretically of course.

a 90% shooter shoots 200 FT.

So he makes 90 of 100 first FT.
He misses 10 second FT.

With regards to second FT
He makes 81 of 90 second FT he makes.
He makes 9 of 10 second FT where he missed previously.

So out of 100 trips, 19 times he would need to use the rule. (Either he missed 1, he missed 2 or he missed both)

On those 19 FT, he would make 17. (technically 17.1 but you can't make .1 FT) So he would make

90 First Attempt
90 Second Attempt
17 third Attempt
For 197 makes

He attempts
100 First FT
100 Second FT
19 third attempts
219 attempts

He would make .899% of his total FT.