Increase in FTs

[CIN-C-STAR]

I know anyone who has watched the NBA regularly for years has noticed the uptick in foul calls and FTs this season, but I haven't seen much discussion of it so thought why not start a thread.
Some cursory research shows there are about 3.5 more FTs per game this season, an increase of about 16%.
It feels like more though, probably because fouls are up even more, about 22%.
I couldn't find the exact number of more fouls per game, but if you look at this chart every single team in the NBA is averaging more fouls per game than last season, except for the Memphis Grizzlies.
https://www.teamrankings.com/nba/stat/personal-fouls-per-game
Put another way, last season, only five teams averaged more than 20 fouls per game, while this season, only four teams average fewer than 20 fouls per game.
So there is undeniably a much tighter whistle this season, and while I figured it would settle as the season has gone along, I've not seen any signs of that happening yet.
I watched the Spurs-Grizzlies game tonight, for example, and there were 55 FTs taken in total.
As a viewer, that might be OK if they were all legitimate calls, but there were several "shooting fouls" where I struggled to see any contact at all, even with the benefit of slow motion replay.
This is purely anecdotal, but I feel like I used to watch games and there would be one or two fouls that I thought looked really sus because the contact was so marginal or wasn't even there. Now, I feel like there are like 5 plays a game where I have no idea what the ref is calling even after watching replay.

Can anyone explain why the league has chosen to call the game so tight all of a sudden? Like, who was asking for this?
I can't imagine there was market research that showed fans really want to see players shooting more FTs after marginal, incidental or even phantom contact, so what problem is the league trying to address by instructing officials to call more fouls?
I also think the gifting of FTs and the one-sided nature of how the refs call fouls -- allowing offensive players to initiate tons of contact but routinely calling ticky tack fouls on defenders -- has increased the risk of injury to players for two reasons.
One, players not being allowed even marginal contact, or being grabbed by offensive players if they "get too close" and then the offensive player flopping to force a call, has made the game much faster. It's a big reason for the pace continuing to increase imo. You can't really stop anyone these days without a second defender, which means guys can fly down court off a rebound uninhibited and attack their defender before that second defender is even in position to help. The pace of the game surely has something to do with the increase in lower leg injuries, and taking away even marginal contact when defending 1v1 encourages a super high pace.
And secondly, offensive players are constantly initiating contact -- hitting shot blockers in the face to clear space for a finish, hooking defenders arms and then flopping, causing both players to fall awkwardly, or just launching themselves into help defenders, leading to off-balance stumbles and falls, which are the kind of plays where guys can get rolled up on.
Imo it also just leads to an ugly game, with a lot of players playing for the whistle instead of just passing the ball to the open guy, then complaining to the ref if they don't get the call since that is what they were playing for, etc. It's just not good basketball at all really, the flow is disjointed from all the stoppages, and it feels like bad "hero ball" is constantly being rewarded by the refs bailing the players out with questionable foul calls.
Personally I don't want the defense to be able to maul people like they once did, but a slight bump with the chest or whatever shouldn't be an automatic call. Just go back to allowing incidental contact and having some no calls.
I actually miss the days when the refs sometimes missed calls. I don't expect them to be perfect, after all. But calling fouls when there isn't even contact just makes for an ugly, cheap-looking product imo. If it weren't for the fact that I know they will call the game wildly different in the playoffs, I wouldn't even bother to keep watching at this point tbh.

[LockoutSeason]

The OKC Effect.

More teams are following OKC’s style of defense: being extremely aggressive, going for steals, forcing turnovers, and not being afraid of fouling.

Currently the league is averaging 8.5 SPG, the highest since 1994.

The league is also averaging the highest number of fouls, FTs, and turnovers since 2007.

The 2020s have been defined by hyper efficiency, avoiding fouls, and limiting turnovers. All the lowest FTA seasons in history are in the 2020s. That’s changing since teams are now going after the ball and not allowing the threat of a foul get in the way.

Read on Twitter

#m

[ball_takes23]

considering OKC has a historic 6+ point gap on the second best defense I dont know how that strategy is working out for coaches. It reminds me of when everyone started trying to copy the Warriors except they couldnt do it because they didnt have Steph, Klay and KD on their team. If you dont have 6-7 all-NBA level defenders then trying to copy okc is probably not a wise strategy. Tailoring your defense to your personnel will usually work out much better.

Also having a point guard who virtually never turns the ball over is one of the most overlooked parts of OKC's historic defense. If i was trying to copy OKC i would start with limiting the turnovers on offense rather than trying to foul every possession.

[og15]

The OKC Effect.

More teams are following OKC’s style of defense: being extremely aggressive, going for steals, forcing turnovers, and not being afraid of fouling.

Currently the league is averaging 8.5 SPG, the highest since 1994.

The league is also averaging the highest number of fouls, FTs, and turnovers since 2007.

The 2020s have been defined by hyper efficiency, avoiding fouls, and limiting turnovers. All the lowest FTA seasons in history are in the 2020s. That’s changing since teams are now going after the ball and not allowing the threat of a foul get in the way.

Read on Twitter

#m

Great clip, good to see a former coach who has contact with other coaches (including a brother) talking about the mentality change.

I was going to answer the question of who wanted this by saying that all the others teams owners complained about OKC and wanted things called tighter.

I think the league still needs to find a better balance with the offensive players initiating contact though.

considering OKC has a historic 6+ point gap on the second best defense I dont know how that strategy is working out for coaches. It reminds me of when everyone started trying to copy the Warriors except they couldnt do it because they didnt have Steph, Klay and KD on their team. If you dont have 6-7 all-NBA level defenders then trying to copy okc is probably not a wise strategy. Tailoring your defense to your personnel will usually work out much better.

NBA and copying is always wild.

[MrBigShot]

The OKC Effect.

More teams are following OKC’s style of defense: being extremely aggressive, going for steals, forcing turnovers, and not being afraid of fouling.

Currently the league is averaging 8.5 SPG, the highest since 1994.

The league is also averaging the highest number of fouls, FTs, and turnovers since 2007.

The 2020s have been defined by hyper efficiency, avoiding fouls, and limiting turnovers. All the lowest FTA seasons in history are in the 2020s. That’s changing since teams are now going after the ball and not allowing the threat of a foul get in the way.

Read on Twitter

#m

If you foul on every single possession, the refs can't call a foul on every possession.

Not to take anything away from OKC, because we also employ a very physical grind it out type of defense.

[LockoutSeason]

The OKC Effect.

More teams are following OKC’s style of defense: being extremely aggressive, going for steals, forcing turnovers, and not being afraid of fouling.

Currently the league is averaging 8.5 SPG, the highest since 1994.

The league is also averaging the highest number of fouls, FTs, and turnovers since 2007.

The 2020s have been defined by hyper efficiency, avoiding fouls, and limiting turnovers. All the lowest FTA seasons in history are in the 2020s. That’s changing since teams are now going after the ball and not allowing the threat of a foul get in the way.

If you foul on every single possession, the refs can't call a foul on every possession.

Not to take anything away from OKC, because we also employ a very physical grind it out type of defense.

That’s the strategy. Just foul on every possession and dare the refs to call it.

There were a couple 75-80 FT games early in the season and it wasn’t pretty.

Now the FTs have leveled off and the end result is a huge increase of pace since those turnovers will lead to transition baskets.

This style benefits young teams which is why all these new young squads are breaking out. Aging teams like the Bucks, Warriors, and Clippers will be in hell. And LeBron is going to a be huge liability for the Lakers. This style will finally force him into retirement.

[Castle Black]

Guys are also flopping and foul-baiting A TON these days. It sucks to watch. Here's are some perfect examples from this week alone:

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

[Patches Perry]

considering OKC has a historic 6+ point gap on the second best defense I dont know how that strategy is working out for coaches. It reminds me of when everyone started trying to copy the Warriors except they couldnt do it because they didnt have Steph, Klay and KD on their team. If you dont have 6-7 all-NBA level defenders then trying to copy okc is probably not a wise strategy. Tailoring your defense to your personnel will usually work out much better.

Also having a point guard who virtually never turns the ball over is one of the most overlooked parts of OKC's historic defense. If i was trying to copy OKC i would start with limiting the turnovers on offense rather than trying to foul every possession.

Really good points. I was going to mention it in the Presti thread the other day but my post was already getting too long — one thing I think Presti learned the hard way early on was that trying to match up with the best team is playing from behind.

Presti traded Jeff Green, who could have been a perfect small ball 4, for Kendrick Perkins. This is because the champion Lakers had a big Bynum/Gasol frontcourt and Presti wanted to match with Perkins/Ibaka.

Problem is, by 2012 you had the small ball Heat, Spurs and then Warriors really accelerated it. Bigs like Perkins became unplayable.

The key is to play to your personnel so well that other teams think its the style that's effective rather than the specific players on the team.

[cupcakesnake]

Offensive players are initiating insane amount of contact, and the refs are calling fouls on the defense.

When I see basketball trainer videos on social media these days, there's so much stuff about how to bump, how to use the off-arm to gain separation etc. These moves are all legal with how the game is called. I actually don't mind offensive players initiating tons of contact, I just dont think the defender should be called for much if he's maintaining a legal guarding position.

I'm the last person to complain about calls, but I have found a lot of games to be less entertaining this year.

[The4thHorseman]

Guys are also flopping and foul-baiting A TON these days. It sucks to watch. Here's are some perfect examples from this week alone:

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

The first clip you could see body contact being made. Enough for a foul but not enough to make Shai fall like that.

The 2nd one was a rip move and clearly a foul. The tweet saying Shai grabbed JK's arm is completely fabricated.

[Andri]

Guys are also flopping and foul-baiting A TON these days. It sucks to watch. Here's are some perfect examples from this week alone:

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

The first clip you could see body contact being made. Enough for a foul but not enough to make Shai fall like that.

The 2nd one was a rip move and clearly a foul. The tweet saying Shai grabbed JK's arm is completely fabricated.

If referees are going to call even the smallest 'bumps' initiated by the offensive player, while those players have mastered the rip move (defenders using more the arms to keep in check the offensive players), it makes virtually impossible to stop penetrations, as we are currently seeing.

Unless you are so aggressive that referees are forced to lower the bar. That is what is happening. But you have to fully commit like OKC, and have the personnel of course.

[scrabbarista]

Silver said it gives people more chances to place bets. He said it, so it may be the reason.

[LockoutSeason]

Guys are also flopping and foul-baiting A TON these days. It sucks to watch. Here's are some perfect examples from this week alone:

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

The first clip you could see body contact being made. Enough for a foul but not enough to make Shai fall like that.

The 2nd one was a rip move and clearly a foul. The tweet saying Shai grabbed JK's arm is completely fabricated.

So you’re saying we were lied to by accounts named “Hater Report” and “Brick Center”?

Insane!

[CIN-C-STAR]

Guys are also flopping and foul-baiting A TON these days. It sucks to watch. Here's are some perfect examples from this week alone:

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

The first clip you could see body contact being made. Enough for a foul but not enough to make Shai fall like that.

The 2nd one was a rip move and clearly a foul. The tweet saying Shai grabbed JK's arm is completely fabricated.

If referees are going to call even the smallest 'bumps' initiated by the offensive player, while those players have mastered the rip move (defenders using more the arms to keep in check the offensive players), it makes virtually impossible to stop penetrations, as we are currently seeing.

Unless you are so aggressive that referees are forced to lower the bar. That is what is happening. But you have to fully commit like OKC, and have the personnel of course.

Yes and that's part of the reason we are seeing teams like Miami move away from screening altogether.
If you can't guard anyone straight up anymore, why bring a second defender into the action?
So we are seeing the proliferation of iso-flopball, because the way the rules are enforced it may actually be the most efficient offense.
It sure makes for an ugly ass product though that's a lot less enjoyable for fans who actually watch games.
I know Silver has said that he likes highlights though, so maybe it's good for that. If you can't guard anyone, there will be ample amount of dunks and and-1s to put on the highlight reels.

[Ice Man]

Offensive players are initiating insane amount of contact, and the refs are calling fouls on the defense.

While I agree with this, I will also say that it does go two ways. First, referees called defensive grabbing on the perimeter (well, at least in the regular season), but they are quite permissive in permitting defenders to do what in soccer might called shoulder charges -- bodying up guys who are on the move. Second, defenders can do anything they want off the ball in the paint, which is why there's hardly any post play any more. Rarely is a post defender whistled for pushing, shoving, holding.

[ConSarnit]

The first clip you could see body contact being made. Enough for a foul but not enough to make Shai fall like that.

The 2nd one was a rip move and clearly a foul. The tweet saying Shai grabbed JK's arm is completely fabricated.

If referees are going to call even the smallest 'bumps' initiated by the offensive player, while those players have mastered the rip move (defenders using more the arms to keep in check the offensive players), it makes virtually impossible to stop penetrations, as we are currently seeing.

Unless you are so aggressive that referees are forced to lower the bar. That is what is happening. But you have to fully commit like OKC, and have the personnel of course.

Yes and that's part of the reason we are seeing teams like Miami move away from screening altogether.
If you can't guard anyone straight up anymore, why bring a second defender into the action?
So we are seeing the proliferation of iso-flopball, because the way the rules are enforced it may actually be the most efficient offense.
It sure makes for an ugly ass product though that's a lot less enjoyable for fans who actually watch games.
I know Silver has said that he likes highlights though, so maybe it's good for that. If you can't guard anyone, there will be ample amount of dunks and and-1s to put on the highlight reels.

That’s not really why the Heat are playing the way they are playing. They are just trying to juice the pace to win the possession battle. They also don’t have any pnr maestros (or passing hubs) so those traditional sets aren’t as effective for them. Teams haven’t adjusted to their style of play yet and it throws traditional defensive systems out of sorts. Most players know how to defend the pnr. They haven’t figured out how to defend against 5 guys all moving at the same time. That’s why Miami is having success.

The Heat are winning the possession game, not the foul drawing game.

[Andri]

If referees are going to call even the smallest 'bumps' initiated by the offensive player, while those players have mastered the rip move (defenders using more the arms to keep in check the offensive players), it makes virtually impossible to stop penetrations, as we are currently seeing.

Unless you are so aggressive that referees are forced to lower the bar. That is what is happening. But you have to fully commit like OKC, and have the personnel of course.

Yes and that's part of the reason we are seeing teams like Miami move away from screening altogether.
If you can't guard anyone straight up anymore, why bring a second defender into the action?
So we are seeing the proliferation of iso-flopball, because the way the rules are enforced it may actually be the most efficient offense.
It sure makes for an ugly ass product though that's a lot less enjoyable for fans who actually watch games.
I know Silver has said that he likes highlights though, so maybe it's good for that. If you can't guard anyone, there will be ample amount of dunks and and-1s to put on the highlight reels.

That’s not really why the Heat are playing the way they are playing. They are just trying to juice the pace to win the possession battle. They also don’t have any pnr maestros (or passing hubs) so those traditional sets aren’t as effective for them. Teams haven’t adjusted to their style of play yet and it throws traditional defensive systems out of sorts. Most players know how to defend the pnr. They haven’t figured out how to defend against 5 guys all moving at the same time. That’s why Miami is having success.

The Heat are winning the possession game, not the foul drawing game.

What I think he means is that Miami realized that you don't need to screen anymore to have a good offensive possession, since defending 1to1 is so difficult nowadays. Just move the ball until you find some spacing or room that allows you to beat your man who most of the times is hopeless.