The NBA announced changes to its intentional foul rules Tuesday following years of debate regarding teams' various Hack-a-Shaq strategies.
"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," the league announced.
NBA TV on Twitter relayed commissioner Adam Silver's comments regarding the rule change at a press conference on Tuesday evening in Las Vegas:
— NBA TV (@NBATV) July 13, 2016
Silver later told reporters the league is projecting a 45 percent decline in fouls of the Hack-a-Shaq variety, according to Bleacher Report's Howard Beck.
The announcement also stipulates two other changes to the intentional foul rules.
According to the release, any foul that occurs prior to an inbounds pass at any stage in a game will be administered the same way as intentional fouls in the last two minutes of a quarter.
Furthermore, the league announced "it will presumptively be considered a flagrant foul if a player jumps on an opponent's back to commit a deliberate foul. Previously, these type of fouls were subject to being called flagrant but were not automatic."
Specifically, the league is seeking to outlaw fouls like the one seen below courtesy of Philadelphia 76ers center Nerlens Noel:
"In looking at the data and numerous potential solutions to combat the large increase in deliberate away-from-the-play foul situations, we believe these steps offer the most measured approach," NBA executive vice president of basketball operations Kiki VanDeWeghe said. "The introduction of these new rules is designed to curb the increase in such fouls without eliminating the strategy entirely."
In February, Silver told USA Today's NBA A to Z podcast (via USA Today's Jeff Zillgitt) that the Association would make changes to the rulebook since intentional fouling strategies against certain big men were depriving the game of aesthetic quality.
"At the end of the day, we are an entertainment property, and it's clear that when you're in the arena that fans are looking at me, shrugging their shoulders with that look saying, 'Aren't you going to do something about this?'" he said.
However, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is among those who isn't a fan of the league's decision, according to ESPN.com's Tim MacMahon:
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) July 13, 2016
From a tactical standpoint, the rules change figures to have some ramifications, as ESPN Insider's Kevin Pelton explained:
— Kevin Pelton (@kpelton) July 13, 2016
And if the new rules disincentivize intentional fouling to a significant degree, head coaches could increase playing time late in the first, second and third quarters for big men who shoot poorly from the free-throw line.
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