The NBA announced changes to its intentional foul rules Tuesday following years of debate regarding teams' various Hack-a-Shaq strategies.

According to the league's official press release, the NBA Board of Governors approved a rules change for the 2016-17 season that will make the intentional foul rules for the final two minutes of the fourth quarter applicable to the final two minutes of every quarter.

"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.
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 stipulated 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 handled 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."

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

Silver is as much of a micromanaging asshole as his predecessor and he's been afforded entirely too much goodwill from the Sterling affair.

What the hell is the point of that?

How is the last 2 minutes of the 1st quarter different than the first 2 minutes of the 2nd quarter?

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You know me like that.

I would be happier if they somehow outlawed intentionally fouling to stop the clock at end of half/game at all. Even more so in college.

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Elections have consequences.

I don't really get why intentional fouling is such an issue. Coaches should take the player out of the game when it is being done if they can't perform the actions on the field.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Wouldn't a simple solution be to give the team the option of declining free throws and taking the ball out of bounds with a new shot clock.

You are right. But stars...

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Elections have consequences.

The problem is that the strategy of teams late in games when down is to foul to slow down the game and give themselves a chance if they miss free throws. Games would basically just end if they could get a new shot clock every time.

But that is why this is stupid. The NBA doesn't care if a team fouls with 20 seconds left down by 2 points. They somehow care if you foul down by 8 with 1:50 to go in the third quarter.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

I suppose the objective of this is to not have teams take a scrub or two for instance and just foul stars that can't shoot a foul shot all game long.

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Elections have consequences.

agreed....should MLB make rules against the shift ?

it's really only a handful of players (Howard, Jordan, etc.) that are the issue....i can't see how you adjust a rule for something that doesn't affect 97% of the players

Dumb move. You're making a rule for Andrew Drummond and Dwight Howard and DeAndre Jordan--3 players out of 450:

marginal cases make bad rules

it's a little like banning the defensive shift in baseball because David Ortiz and Prince Fielder can't figure out how to lay down a bunt down the third-base line. which, btw, Joe Girardi and others in MLB advocate for.

is there an echo in here ?

Great rule and a small step back in the right direction for a league that use to be fun.

Seeing how all of you disagree with this just shows that not only is the NBA awful, but so are it's fans.

This is dumb. Should MLB change the shift rule, too?

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-- source

Horrible rule. If you can't shoot free throws in crucial situations you shouldn't be in the game. Basic strategy.

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people are just afraid to look at him because of his off appearance

ahem,

"ITS fans"

Great post.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!