Thoughts on Thunder resorting to Hack-a-Lively?

[ORLMagicGirl15]

As a Magic fan Hack-a-Shaq and Hack-a-Howard was so painful that the league actually put into place that you cannot hack the last 2 minutes of the game. I get that it is a strategy but I hate it. Along with fouling up 3. I hate that one too.

[chilluminati]

It's a strategy to counter the Thunders "girth" problem as Stepen A would put it. If they foul Lively he most likely misses FT's causing Kidd to take him out. That allows them to finally control the boards and let Holmgren cook. But Kidd went back on taking Lively out and let him cook, it was beautiful. It was a night and day difference when Lively was in and out of the game, so it was smart that Mark D. was on that but I gotta agree that if you're a 1 seed, that shouldn't be what you're resorting to.

This just proves that OKC needs to think about getting a big body backup 5. The return of Steven Adams would be so cool, but there are younger more realistic options.

[RunOKC]

Weird timing to do it considering he was 3/4 right before.I guess coach felt Lively was 'due' to miss, sort of like how you're due for a win at the blackjack table after 3 straight losses.

[Petergrifindor]

Lame.

And it didn't work.

[Dan33185]

My thoughts are not every thought needs a new thread.

I bet if it was a Wolves topic you'd have no problem with it.

If it's a Wolves topic that could have easily been put in the Wolves/Nuggets thread, sure I would.

[baldur]

it might have cost them the series.. lol.

[JustBuzzin]

No thoughts. This basketball make your damn ft's.

[Forbes]

OKC was hoping he missed so Kidd can take him out the game. However Lively was also anchoring the defense quite well.

Kidd did take Lively out briefly so he did fall for it and OKC was able to score. But it was short lived and Kidd put him right back in and stuck with his defensive Center.

[madskillz8]

That's why you have to combine analytics with some sense. Everyone knows, unless your mechanics are broken (e.g., Dwight, or Shaq) FTs are often about rhythm, it is very possible that you can shoot 55% when you are shooting 1.5 per game, and 70+% when you are shooting 10 in a single game. Lively clearly has good mechanics.

Weird timing to do it considering he was 3/4 right before.I guess coach felt Lively was 'due' to miss, sort of like how you're due for a win at the blackjack table after 3 straight losses.

Great point.

I bet this is the suggestion of their analytics team who are likely very good at maths (read as "extracting the truth out of numbers") but know little about basketball, though...

[dygaction]

[mademan]

It was a 3pt game and OKC was struggling against the Dallas set defense and playing good defense themselves. The strategy made no sense

[BmanInBigD]

I loved it. It backfired. But actually I think it's a bush league tactic, even when Shaq was the Hack-a.

Why bush league? Opponent can always take the guy out of the game.

I've always thought it was just a crappy rule. If you're in the "bonus" and the other team is in the "penalty", you should be able to shoot the FT's or get the ball with a new 24 seconds, your choice. Purposely putting people at the FT line at the end of the game just cheapens it. Been a pet peeve of mine forever. The college game is even more egregious at this. NO game should ever be won or lost at the free throw line. FT line parades are the worst thing in basketball.

[srhcan]

Immature coaching move or smart decision?


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I think it was a master move, both Hack-Lively and Hack-Gafford. It did work initially as both Lively and Gafford missed FTs, and forced Kidd to take both Lively and Gafford out and go small. But the OKC players could not take advantage and Lively came back and start making FTs. OKC may try it again

[ChipotleWest]

My thoughts are not every thought needs a new thread.

I bet if it was a Wolves topic you'd have no problem with it.

If it's a Wolves topic that could have easily been put in the Wolves/Nuggets thread, sure I would.

The thread isn't breaking any rules, if you don't like a thread just ignore it.

[ChipotleWest]

It was a 3pt game and OKC was struggling against the Dallas set defense and playing good defense themselves. The strategy made no sense

And they seem to be most dangerous when the Mavs miss and they get a fast break going the other way. The coach literally took that option away from them.

[dirkdiggler4177]

I love it as a basketball fan. It really changes the dynamic of the game. It can make one coach look like a genius or a dumbass. If he starts missing it can really mess up the team. As a mav fan it made me really nervous, I'm glad he made them.

[celtxman]

Whether it worked or not I have zero problem with coaches using it. Teams routinely attack weak defenders and even injured players. How is this undignified ?

[SelfishPlayer]

We know in hindsight, it didn't work. Lively ended up making most of the FTs.

But more importantly, as the #1 seed playing against the #5 seed whose best player is injured, if this is your best defensive strategy to close out the games, then you have much bigger problems. All this tells me is maybe the coach doesn't trust their supposedly excellent defense to get stops.

Also, this hack a player thing needs to stop. It kills the game for the viewers.

I think it's exciting when the person being hacked is an All Star.

[azcatz11]

42% FT shooter. Everyone on here loves advanced stats but some of you don’t like when math is actually used in the games. You all should be ashamed of yourselves

[dirkforpres]

It’s basically admitting “we can’t stop yall”…

Which is embarrassing, considering they have Dort, Williams, and Chet all starting and healthy