"Hack-a-Ben" strategy

BillessuR6 · Post #1 » by **BillessuR6** » Mon May 5, 2008 9:37 am

I definitely think we should use the "Hack-a-Ben" strategy in this series. Rivers needs to analyze SA-PHO matchup and how and when Spurs used it on Shaq.

Every time cavs find a good rhythm on offense and Lebron gets hot or when you feel momentum is shifting CLE`s way we could employ the strategy in our favour.

Obviously there are negative sides to this tactic, it might interrupt our own defensive and offensive flow, it might fire up the cavs even more but all in all I think it is just perfect for not allowing the cavs to get into too much of an offensive rhythm. We shouldn`t overuse it but if it is timely used it could really benefit us.

Of course, the main question is do we want Wallace on the bench or in the game. Having Wallace in the game really hurts CLE on offensive side, so if we utilize this tactic they might go with Joe Smith and it makes them more dangerous offensively.

Finding a good balance in when to use it and when not is the key here. The wizzards didn`t in their series, so every coach has a different opinion on it but IMO we should try and exploit this cavs weakness.

And we can expand this strategy to "Hack-a-Varejao" if needed. He is only a 60% free throw shooter, so you have another guy who is a liability on the line. Of course, James isn`t a great FT shooter either.

Wallace 42,6 FT% regular season
Varejao 59,8 FT%
Lebron 71,2 FT%

As a team Cavaliers shot 71,1% from the free throw line in the regular season and 70,3% in the first round. They are 28th in the NBA in FT%, celtics are 8th at 77,0 FT%.

So, what is your opinion on the "Hack-a-Ben" strategy?

mr_sunshine · Post #2 » by **mr_sunshine** » Mon May 5, 2008 9:47 am

I agree they should give it a whirl. I personally think Ben Wallace is garbage now, and Varejao is probably better. He actually hustles and gets some loose balls and what not. That's a huge benefit to Cleveland. I think we should just see how the series pans out before worrying too much about this.

MyInsatiableOne · Post #3 » by **MyInsatiableOne** » Mon May 5, 2008 1:16 pm

At least in his prime Wallace was a beast defensively, since his offense was *ahem* limited. Now he sucks at both ends of the floor. He doesn't worry me at all.

humblebum · Post #4 » by **humblebum** » Mon May 5, 2008 1:33 pm

I think that it's a solid strategy because it has the potential to stifle the opponents offense and may also frustrate the opponent as well. It also slows down the tempo of the game considerably which can be a good or bad thing. In the end, any strategy that takes the ball out of Lebron's hands is probably a decent strategy, especially when the person your hacking is as terrible as Big Ben. The biggest downside however is that it might force Mike Brown to take him out of the game. That's a potential negative because having him on the court makes the Cavs much easier to defend. This is all likely moot however because I don't think this is a strategy that Doc favors.

ermocrate · Post #5 » by **ermocrate** » Mon May 5, 2008 1:35 pm

Can we talk about Basketball pls?

tonythewise · Post #6 » by **tonythewise** » Mon May 5, 2008 1:38 pm

MyInsatiableOne wrote:At least in his prime Wallace was a beast defensively, since his offense was *ahem* limited. Now he sucks at both ends of the floor. He doesn't worry me at all.

i thought his man to man defense was vastly overrated. In that system he was set free to wreck havoc as a weakside shot blocker but he was average at best one on one. Now he is barely that.

Post #7 » by **sully00** » Mon May 5, 2008 1:48 pm

My guess is that we want to keep Ben on the floor and this tactic would only force them to sub for him. If happens to be on the court and hurting us on one end or the other then absolutely especially if we have the lead.

Ben can still have his moments don't get me wrong but I can't imagine a worse fit on a LeBron lead team than a guy who makes it easier to double him.

MyInsatiableOne · Post #8 » by **MyInsatiableOne** » Mon May 5, 2008 1:55 pm

tonythewise wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

i thought his man to man defense was vastly overrated. In that system he was set free to wreck havoc as a weakside shot blocker but he was average at best one on one. Now he is barely that.

You're right, that's what I meant. He roamed around and blocked shots and got rebounds. Now he's nothing.

cisco · Post #9 » by **cisco** » Mon May 5, 2008 2:04 pm

sully00 wrote:My guess is that we want to keep Ben on the floor and this tactic would only force them to sub for him. If happens to be on the court and hurting us on one end or the other then absolutely especially if we have the lead.

Ben can still have his moments don't get me wrong but I can't imagine a worse fit on a LeBron lead team than a guy who makes it easier to double him.

Edit: No hack-a-Wallace unless it is clear that it would bring the Cs an advantage.

bruno sundov · Post #10 » by **bruno sundov** » Mon May 5, 2008 2:06 pm

I'm all for it at the end of games when its close. The guys has a worse chance shooting a FT then a FG. But still he isn't the offensive force that will hurt us.

Athanacropolis · Post #11 » by **Athanacropolis** » Mon May 5, 2008 2:09 pm

All for "Hack-A-Ben." I think Stephen A. Smith and Bill Simmons are dead wrong about how "bad" this strategy is to the fans and the integrity of the game.

Fans want to see a player who has been in the league 10+ years hit their free throws. Fans want to see their team win however they can within the boundaries of the rules of the game. The integrity of the game is not served by not exploiting another team's weakness so you don't make them and their fans feel bad. Hack the hell out of him.

ermocrate · Post #12 » by **ermocrate** » Mon May 5, 2008 2:12 pm

bruno sundov wrote:I'm all for it at the end of games when its close. The guys has a worse chance shooting a FT then a FG. But still he isn't the offensive force that will hurt us.

No chance you'll see him on the floor in that particular situation.

bruno sundov · Post #13 » by **bruno sundov** » Mon May 5, 2008 2:19 pm

I think you will. I'm saying with less than 4 minutes in the game. he is still in there.

Gomes3PC · Post #14 » by **Gomes3PC** » Mon May 5, 2008 2:35 pm

Dont just hack him off the ball. If he gets it deep in the paint or grabs an offensive rebound then let Powe and PJ and Baby hack away. But Perk and KG must stay in and play 65-70 minutes combined each game. Especially if Perk defends like he did in Game 7.

Also, Doc doesnt strike me as the type to employ the Hack-A strategy; neither does Thibodeau.

Relative Autonomy · Post #15 » by **Relative Autonomy** » Mon May 5, 2008 4:22 pm

The strategic use of fouls, i think, really adds a lot to defense. If a team can give clean but hard fouls at key times it can really mean a lot in terms of the psychological edge and momentum. The Celtics should do what they can to make Lebron a jump shooter and always pummel him when he takes it in. like Birdman said, he isn't the greatest at free throws.

It would be nice to see Doc use a mix of Peirce, Posey, TA, and Garnett on him to just to mess with him a bit. I think it should mostly fall to Posey and TA though.

Sometimes i think the thing to make this team unstoppable would be to some how get ray allen or even pierce to be the sixth man and a defensive freak at the three spot like like AK-47.

Post #16 » by **sully00** » Mon May 5, 2008 6:25 pm

The other issue with this is that compared to Shaq it is a poor use of fouls. Shaq is probably a 60% shooter when he gets the ball in position and can also find his teamates as well anyone in history against the double. So Shaq in the post is probably a 75% good thing and he is a sub 50% FT shooter so that is when it makes sense.

Wallace on the other hand is as bad from the field as he is from the FT line, not much of passer, and turnover prone. Only bad things happen for his team if he touches the ball offensively, so as a defense you are better off trying to create that, in which case you certainly wouldn't foul him, than collecting fouls off the ball to send him to the line.

Celtic Esquire · Post #17 » by **Celtic Esquire** » Mon May 5, 2008 6:51 pm

I agree that we should Hack A Ben, but Doc is too dumb to utilize such a strategy.

SA worked the Hack a Shaq to perfection during their series with the Suns. Everytime PHX got on a roll, they would foul Shaq off the ball. It killed any momentum that PHX had.

Post #18 » by **ParticleMan** » Mon May 5, 2008 8:31 pm

Washington did actually use Hack-a-Ben a bit. But it's actually better for us with Ben on the floor imo. Why force Brown to take him out?

Much different than Shaq. Shaq is actually a force inside, even if he isn't nearly as good as he used to be. Plus the Suns are a rhythm team, they don't like the ball to stop. The Cavs don't care, stopping the ball actually gives Bron a chance to rest more, so he doesn't have to sit out as much.

celticfan42487 · Post #19 » by **celticfan42487** » Mon May 5, 2008 8:34 pm

Wallace won't be in there when we will be able to use it.

But think of it this way, in crunch time it's taken and foul and sending Ben Wallace to the line. Rather then having the refs call one for LeBron and probuly sending him to the line for an AND1

kmgarnett21 · Post #20 » by **kmgarnett21** » Mon May 5, 2008 9:56 pm

but it would bring the C's an advantage, like the original poster said. IF cleveland starts to get hot & starts goin on a run, jus put big ben on the line. he's worse than shaq. throw big baby or pj brown out thee & foul him & make him earn it. especially if cleveland starts getting out & running, slow the game down a lil bit. i'm all for it.

thats what i was sayin the other day to my friend, i was wondeirng why teams dont hack a ben as often as teams do shaq.