My issue is that most of those end-of-the-game fouls are obviously intentional, but they are not called that way.
The NBA has recognized that those types of fouls are indeed intentional, but there is no added penalty, unless the contact is excessive. Plus, hack-a-Shaq is no longer permitted on a player who doesn’t possess the ball. If that occurs, the fouled player is awarded one free throw and his team retains possession.
Thank you for the clarification. I heard that, in the old days and under certain circumstances, a player would be awarded “3 to make 2”. In other words, he would get three free throws if needed in an attempt to make two. I think they should reinstitute that in those last 2 minute situations where the trailing team interminably lengthens the game with one intentional foul after another.
Or one possibility sometimes mentioned: all fouls after, say, 2 minutes left in game give the fouled team the choice of free-throws or keeping possession on the floor.
I think the reason that the NBA likes it the way it is, is because it makes the game more exciting. The changes you’re all proposing would just make the 30 seconds or whatever a done deal with the winning team just running out the clock.
Correct. Same case in the NCAA. As long as the fouled team can successfully inbound the ball, they win.
I remember that from youth. I think it only went to “3TM2” after a certain number of fouls happened in a quarter. College (and maybe the pros) had “1 and 1” where if you made the first one, you got to try for second one.