2007-2008 NBA Playoffs - THERE CAN ONLY BE ONE

[Deejay]

I jumped on the CP bandwagon a while ago, glad he handled the Mavericks easily. The only concern that I have for Hornets is their depth at the PF/C position. Tyson Chandler can't afford to get in foul trouble early because I think the Hornets only have 1 extra big off the bench. He'll most likely going to be one guarding Duncan in order to keep David West fresh/out of foul trouble.

They're stacked at the SF position so they can afford to foul Ginobili at the perimeter, but not at the basket.

[octopus]

I wish the seeding was a little different and we get to see the Jazz vs the Hornets in the playoffs ;o I guess it might still happen, but not very likely.

[Andarvi]

I am not whining nor am I saying the Spurs are the only floppers in the league. If you are going to tell me that they are not one of the most egregious flopping teams you may have just turned the NBA on during the playoffs, because they fucking are. Yeah, they are good at it, and its still legal, but its boring to watch, throws the tempo off, and won't be around much longer thank god.

As far as hack-a-shaq goes, of course it is partly shaqs fault for being a god awful free throw shooter. He always has been and has ample time to up his game. HOWEVER. The Spurs are multi-time champs, with possibly the greatest power forward of all time, at least top 2, and Tony Parker who is unreal in the playoffs. Hack-a-Shaq is a pussy, bitchass way to win a series, i dont care if it is legal or not. You have all that talent and can only pull off these games by dry humping shaq as soon as the ball is inbounded? Thats pitiful. Play ball and stop pulling these fuckin moves which make the game borderline unwatchable.

[Tyche]

I laughed at calling the "hack a shaq" method "brilliant coaching". I didn't know brilliant people cut corners to achieve success. Pop is a great coach, but hack a shaq is risky and ignorant. Last night they tried it from like 4:30-~3:00 left in the 4th, and I think Shaq went 4/6 and D'antoni managed to sub shaq out when Horry came in, essentially taking Duncan out of the game for about a 2minute stretch toward the end. Fouling Shaq actually ended a 6-0 run by the spurs late in the game and put Pheonix in the lead. Brilliant indeed.

[Deejay]

Yeah it was funny when Duncan checked out and then tried to check back in when he saw Shaq go to the bench. He was whining like a bitch when the refs wouldn't let him play until the next dead ball.

[Arvin]

It's a good risk to take and 'hack-a-shaq' has been around since he joined the league. It's not unfair play or cheap, it's all shaqs fucking fault for being a horrible free throw shooter. Even the worst free throw shooters in the league have won championships (himself, ben wallace for example), so there is absolutely NOTHING wrong with fouling a guy who has a horrible FT%. You just haven't been watching the NBA long and want to whine about a low-risk high reward play. EVERY TEAM would hack-a-shaq if it was necessary. It's essentially the phoenix suns' fault for losing this series so badly because Shawn Marion is more of an asset to that team than shaq will ever be. I'm sorry, but he is washed up. He was amazing in his prime but right now he needs to get ready to retire, not hope to be a value to his team. He only brings them down.

Shaq went 9-20 from the line. I'm pretty sure that small stretch where he made a few points really isn't a problem for the spurs tyche

[Yangsing]

Why not just hand out a technical for blatant flopping. It's probably hard to detect but it would at least deter players from doing it.

[freemason]

Yeah it was funny when Duncan checked out and then tried to check back in when he saw Shaq go to the bench. He was whining like a bitch when the refs wouldn't let him play until the next dead ball.

Give me a break, Amari Stoudemire is one of the biggest whiners in the NBA today. Now I know the Spurs cry alot but thats just part of the game. If the Spurs really wanted Duncan back in there all Pop had to do was call a time out but he obviously felt they could do without. As for the Hack-a-shaq, Pop went there because he knew if the Suns started on a run it would build their confidence. Of course its not going to work all the time but it did have an effect in games past.

[Andarvi]

Why not just hand out a technical for blatant flopping. It's probably hard to detect but it would at least deter players from doing it.

I bet you by next year Stern will put something in the rules, like a Tech foul penalty, for blatant acting, just like soccer. Should do the same for the hack-a-shaq or anyone else shit. Like the commentators were saying, it shouldn't be an advantage to a team to do what they were doing to shaq regardless of his free throw percentage. If I were D'Antoni I would have been trying to pull a Gilby move when he knew he was gonna be fouled, got the inbound pass at the opposite free throw line, and threw a bomb towards the hoop at the other end while being fouled, and actually got 3 shots for continuation. Shaq would have been airmailing them all night until they got off his nuts.

And to Arvin, if you aren't older than me you haven't been watching as long as I have. I am aware that the shit has been going on for a long time, Ben Wallace is subject to the same nonsense. However, I have never seen a team do it the way the Spurs did last night, fouling like that halfway through the first quarter. You are missing my point and I am not whining, asshole. This was the Suns-Spurs match up that we have been waiting the whole season for and I wanted to see 48 minutes of excitement, which certainly didn't happen. Thank you Shaq for sucking at free throws, and thank you Pops for having no shame in doing what it takes to win. I don't blame him as a coach, but as a fan, it pissed me off wish they were showing the Magic-Raptors series instead of this one.

[Arvin]

Why not just hand out a technical for blatant flopping. It's probably hard to detect but it would at least deter players from doing it.

I bet you by next year Stern will put something in the rules, like a Tech foul penalty, for blatant acting, just like soccer. Should do the same for the hack-a-shaq or anyone else shit. Like the commentators were saying, it shouldn't be an advantage to a team to do what they were doing to shaq regardless of his free throw percentage. If I were D'Antoni I would have been trying to pull a Gilby move when he knew he was gonna be fouled, got the inbound pass at the opposite free throw line, and threw a bomb towards the hoop at the other end while being fouled, and actually got 3 shots for continuation. Shaq would have been airmailing them all night until they got off his nuts.

And to Arvin, if you aren't older than me you haven't been watching as long as I have. I am aware that the shit has been going on for a long time, Ben Wallace is subject to the same nonsense. However, I have never seen a team do it the way the Spurs did last night, fouling like that halfway through the first quarter. You are missing my point and I am not whining, asshole. This was the Suns-Spurs match up that we have been waiting the whole season for and I wanted to see 48 minutes of excitement, which certainly didn't happen. Thank you Shaq for sucking at free throws, and thank you Pops for having no shame in doing what it takes to win. I don't blame him as a coach, but as a fan, it pissed me off wish they were showing the Magic-Raptors series instead of this one.

I really do hope they put in a ruling on hack-a-shaq or blatant fouls on horrible FT% players also. I agree with you on everything but it's simply just the fact that nobody can do anything about it. It's up to the player in trouble to have to step up and be the better player. I recall an earlier season game where the magic were up by a few points at the last minute of the fourth. They hacked away at howard since he is also horrible at free throws. He stepped up, and made 4 FT in a row and after that, the other team had given in. I mean to the fans, it's all about excitement. You got to remember though, to them it's all about the championship. If hack-a-shaq gets them to the next round, then they'll do it. If the suns had won this series and played NO, I'm pretty sure they would also commit fouls on shaq.

I really don't see how its so hard to hit free throws. After practicing them so much they should at least be able to bump their % up a little but it never happens. I'm not sure if it's mental exercise or physical as much for the bigger guys.. but there are plenty of centers who don't crack at the FT line.

[octopus]

If they really want to stop the hack-a-shaq tactic, just do it like college... Call the intentional fouls. 2 foul shots + the ball.

But I don't think the hack-a-shaq was working that well anyway.

[freemason]

If they really want to stop the hack-a-shaq tactic, just do it like college... Call the intentional fouls. 2 foul shots + the ball.

But I don't think the hack-a-shaq was working that well anyway.

Shaq was 9-20 in FT in game 5 that the Suns lost 87-92 I would say that it worked just fine. Thank you very much coach Pop

[Andarvi]

Why not just hand out a technical for blatant flopping. It's probably hard to detect but it would at least deter players from doing it.

I bet you by next year Stern will put something in the rules, like a Tech foul penalty, for blatant acting, just like soccer. Should do the same for the hack-a-shaq or anyone else shit. Like the commentators were saying, it shouldn't be an advantage to a team to do what they were doing to shaq regardless of his free throw percentage. If I were D'Antoni I would have been trying to pull a Gilby move when he knew he was gonna be fouled, got the inbound pass at the opposite free throw line, and threw a bomb towards the hoop at the other end while being fouled, and actually got 3 shots for continuation. Shaq would have been airmailing them all night until they got off his nuts.

And to Arvin, if you aren't older than me you haven't been watching as long as I have. I am aware that the shit has been going on for a long time, Ben Wallace is subject to the same nonsense. However, I have never seen a team do it the way the Spurs did last night, fouling like that halfway through the first quarter. You are missing my point and I am not whining, asshole. This was the Suns-Spurs match up that we have been waiting the whole season for and I wanted to see 48 minutes of excitement, which certainly didn't happen. Thank you Shaq for sucking at free throws, and thank you Pops for having no shame in doing what it takes to win. I don't blame him as a coach, but as a fan, it pissed me off wish they were showing the Magic-Raptors series instead of this one.

I really do hope they put in a ruling on hack-a-shaq or blatant fouls on horrible FT% players also. I agree with you on everything but it's simply just the fact that nobody can do anything about it. It's up to the player in trouble to have to step up and be the better player. I recall an earlier season game where the magic were up by a few points at the last minute of the fourth. They hacked away at howard since he is also horrible at free throws. He stepped up, and made 4 FT in a row and after that, the other team had given in. I mean to the fans, it's all about excitement. You got to remember though, to them it's all about the championship. If hack-a-shaq gets them to the next round, then they'll do it. If the suns had won this series and played NO, I'm pretty sure they would also commit fouls on shaq.

I really don't see how its so hard to hit free throws. After practicing them so much they should at least be able to bump their % up a little but it never happens. I'm not sure if it's mental exercise or physical as much for the bigger guys.. but there are plenty of centers who don't crack at the FT line.

Alright, we are on the same page, as I agree with you as well. Sorry for calling you an asshole.

[Arvin]

Why not just hand out a technical for blatant flopping. It's probably hard to detect but it would at least deter players from doing it.

I bet you by next year Stern will put something in the rules, like a Tech foul penalty, for blatant acting, just like soccer. Should do the same for the hack-a-shaq or anyone else shit. Like the commentators were saying, it shouldn't be an advantage to a team to do what they were doing to shaq regardless of his free throw percentage. If I were D'Antoni I would have been trying to pull a Gilby move when he knew he was gonna be fouled, got the inbound pass at the opposite free throw line, and threw a bomb towards the hoop at the other end while being fouled, and actually got 3 shots for continuation. Shaq would have been airmailing them all night until they got off his nuts.

And to Arvin, if you aren't older than me you haven't been watching as long as I have. I am aware that the shit has been going on for a long time, Ben Wallace is subject to the same nonsense. However, I have never seen a team do it the way the Spurs did last night, fouling like that halfway through the first quarter. You are missing my point and I am not whining, asshole. This was the Suns-Spurs match up that we have been waiting the whole season for and I wanted to see 48 minutes of excitement, which certainly didn't happen. Thank you Shaq for sucking at free throws, and thank you Pops for having no shame in doing what it takes to win. I don't blame him as a coach, but as a fan, it pissed me off wish they were showing the Magic-Raptors series instead of this one.

I really do hope they put in a ruling on hack-a-shaq or blatant fouls on horrible FT% players also. I agree with you on everything but it's simply just the fact that nobody can do anything about it. It's up to the player in trouble to have to step up and be the better player. I recall an earlier season game where the magic were up by a few points at the last minute of the fourth. They hacked away at howard since he is also horrible at free throws. He stepped up, and made 4 FT in a row and after that, the other team had given in. I mean to the fans, it's all about excitement. You got to remember though, to them it's all about the championship. If hack-a-shaq gets them to the next round, then they'll do it. If the suns had won this series and played NO, I'm pretty sure they would also commit fouls on shaq.

I really don't see how its so hard to hit free throws. After practicing them so much they should at least be able to bump their % up a little but it never happens. I'm not sure if it's mental exercise or physical as much for the bigger guys.. but there are plenty of centers who don't crack at the FT line.

Alright, we are on the same page, as I agree with you as well. Sorry for calling you an asshole.

It's cool, my bad on saying you don't know what you're talking about/haven't watched enough. I don't enjoy the spurs really. I used to be a huge phoenix fan until they gave up marion. I lost all respect once shaq came into the picture because I really dislike him. I just feel horrible for Steve Nash because he deserves a championship

[Tyche]

Yeah it was funny when Duncan checked out and then tried to check back in when he saw Shaq go to the bench. He was whining like a bitch when the refs wouldn't let him play until the next dead ball.

Give me a break, Amari Stoudemire is one of the biggest whiners in the NBA today. Now I know the Spurs cry alot but thats just part of the game. If the Spurs really wanted Duncan back in there all Pop had to do was call a time out but he obviously felt they could do without. As for the Hack-a-shaq, Pop went there because he knew if the Suns started on a run it would build their confidence. Of course its not going to work all the time but it did have an effect in games past.

Did you not watch the game? Pop started hacking away at Shaq in the middle of a Spurs run. They were on a 6-0 run, trying to trade 2 point for 1 when A. Ginobli wasn't scoring, and B. Duncan wasn't in the game, and that cost them the lead down the stretch. They actually stopped fouling shaq about 3 minutes in as opposed to 2 minutes in because it wasn't working. If it weren't for Parker being so god damned good, hacking shaq would have cost them the game. It wasn't a brilliant coaching move, they paid for it. If you are going to try and trade two for one by fouling shaq, you damn well better convert. Pop made a stupid fucking choice since Duncan couldn't get in the game (was really really surprised, as were the analyst that they didn't call a TO to get him back in) and Ginobli was cold as ice.

[freemason]

Yeah it was funny when Duncan checked out and then tried to check back in when he saw Shaq go to the bench. He was whining like a bitch when the refs wouldn't let him play until the next dead ball.

Give me a break, Amari Stoudemire is one of the biggest whiners in the NBA today. Now I know the Spurs cry alot but thats just part of the game. If the Spurs really wanted Duncan back in there all Pop had to do was call a time out but he obviously felt they could do without. As for the Hack-a-shaq, Pop went there because he knew if the Suns started on a run it would build their confidence. Of course its not going to work all the time but it did have an effect in games past.

Did you not watch the game? Pop started hacking away at Shaq in the middle of a Spurs run. They were on a 6-0 run, trying to trade 2 point for 1 when A. Ginobli wasn't scoring, and B. Duncan wasn't in the game, and that cost them the lead down the stretch. They actually stopped fouling shaq about 3 minutes in as opposed to 2 minutes in because it wasn't working. If it weren't for Parker being so god damned good, hacking shaq would have cost them the game. It wasn't a brilliant coaching move, they paid for it. If you are going to try and trade two for one by fouling shaq, you damn well better convert. Pop made a stupid fucking choice since Duncan couldn't get in the game (was really really surprised, as were the analyst that they didn't call a TO to get him back in) and Ginobli was cold as ice.

If you don't think that 9-20 FT when the Suns lost by 5 points didn't make a difference then I don't know what to tell you. Tim had 29 points 17 rebounds and 3 blocks, so I would say he had a great game. Fouling Shaq took Nash out of them game, by not allowing him to get going.

[Tyche]

14 of those freethrows didn't come at the end of the game, intentionally off the ball just to put him on the line. Of course going 9/20 over the game hurt them, but he hit them when he had to hit them down the stretch to keep them in the game. Your delusional if you think it helped the Spurs more than it hurt them.

Phil Jackson was just on PTI calling out Pop for, in so many words, being cheap. That was entertaining.

[freemason]

14 of those freethrows didn't come at the end of the game, intentionally off the ball just to put him on the line. Of course going 9/20 over the game hurt them, but he hit them when he had to hit them down the stretch to keep them in the game. Your delusional if you think it helped the Spurs more than it hurt them.

Phil Jackson was just on PTI calling out Pop for, in so many words, being cheap. That was entertaining.

I saw that and he also said that he hack-a-shaq before so Phil Jackson can go fuck himself. I don't care if he did it when shaq had the ball still a fucking hypocrite. The Spurs will deal with him soon

[Tyche]

14 of those freethrows didn't come at the end of the game, intentionally off the ball just to put him on the line. Of course going 9/20 over the game hurt them, but he hit them when he had to hit them down the stretch to keep them in the game. Your delusional if you think it helped the Spurs more than it hurt them.

Phil Jackson was just on PTI calling out Pop for, in so many words, being cheap. That was entertaining.

I saw that and he also said that he hack-a-shaq before so Phil Jackson can go fuck himself. I don't care if he did it when shaq had the ball still a fucking hypocrite. The Spurs will deal with him soon

Yeah, fuck Phil and all nine of his championships. He said he fouled shaq not only when he had the ball but when he was going up for a shot. That's not hack a shaq, that's preventing easy buckets, it's done to everyone, including 90%+ free throw shooters. That was also 10 years ago when the game was A LOT different than it is today. I don't think the refs would have called the pussy touch fouls they do to shaq off the ball back then. It wouldn't have worked.

[freemason]

14 of those freethrows didn't come at the end of the game, intentionally off the ball just to put him on the line. Of course going 9/20 over the game hurt them, but he hit them when he had to hit them down the stretch to keep them in the game. Your delusional if you think it helped the Spurs more than it hurt them.

Phil Jackson was just on PTI calling out Pop for, in so many words, being cheap. That was entertaining.

I saw that and he also said that he hack-a-shaq before so Phil Jackson can go fuck himself. I don't care if he did it when shaq had the ball still a fucking hypocrite. The Spurs will deal with him soon

Yeah, fuck Phil and all nine of his championships. He said he fouled shaq not only when he had the ball but when he was going up for a shot. That's not hack a shaq, that's preventing easy buckets, it's done to everyone, including 90%+ free throw shooters. That was also 10 years ago when the game was A LOT different than it is today. I don't think the refs would have called the pussy touch fouls they do to shaq off the ball back then. It wouldn't have worked.

Just like Phil did not want Shaq to get an easy bucket, the Spurs did not want the Suns to get going. Did you also hear Phil talking about how it took the Sun off their game? 10 years ago or or last night it does not matter because it worked.