Klomp wrote:shrink wrote:Or, we could ignore a semantic estimation that runs counter to most people’s opinion, and look at actual events, like Simmons shooting .342 FT% for the playoffs, and be an obvious target to intentionally foul? How could he keep him on the floor when that was Simmons actual performance?r RoCo, can’t do it alone. KAT, Russell, Beasley, and Ant will all have to improve a great deal for our team defense to be good.
The rule changed about 5 years ago. If you intentionally foul under 2 minutes, the team gets a FT and the ball. Why was Doc taking out one of the best facilitators in the game in the last minutes?
I think you are answering your own question. Here’s the rule:
The current rule for away-from-the-play fouls applicable to the last two minutes of the fourth period (and last two minutes of any overtime) – pursuant to which the fouled team is awarded one free throw and retains possession of the ball – will be extended to the last two minutes of each period.”
I’ve read that the reason Hack-a-Ben is even more useful than Hack-a-Shaq is BECAUSE Philadelphia wants to put the ball in Ben’s hands. And when you foul a ball handler, it’s not one FT and a possession. Moreover, it’s a lot harder to call a foul intentional if a player is going for the ball, and in addition, you might actually get lucky and get a turnover.
In summary, if PHI tries to get the ball to Simmons to facilitate, he gets immediately fouled, and that’s bad for PHI. If they keep the ball out of his hands, he can’t shoot, so he is of no use on offensive possessions. He is going to have to learn to shoot to be playable in crunch time, and we have seen no evidence of improvement in all his time in the league.