Gregg Popovich on intentional foul strategy: 'It looks awful'
Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich acknowledged that the hack-a-whoever strategy looks ugly, but he doesn't feel guilty about using it.
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San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich has instructed his team to intentionally foul poor free throw shooters for years and years. It's been a controversial tactic since Shaquille O'Neal was the prime target, as it slows the game down and removes any sort of flow. Nobody likes this, and Popovich isn't any different -- he just wants to win, as he told reporters before the Spurs' 116-105 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Sunday:
Pop on the intentional foul conundrum: pic.twitter.com/rgR2wmudt8
— Dan McCarney (@danmccarneySAEN) March 8, 2015
Added, on the notion that making even 50 pct would nullify its effectiveness: "That's why I don't feel too guilty about doing it."
— Dan McCarney (@danmccarneySAEN) March 8, 2015
Popovich's job is to win games, not to win games in an entertaining fashion. San Antonio doesn't put such an emphasis on ball movement, spacing and 3-point shooting because it looks nice -- it's because it works. It just also happens to look nice. In fact, Popovich said last June that he hates 3-pointers. It's not about what he likes and doesn't like aesthetically.
This is simple, and it's always been simple: if people dislike intentional fouls (they do!), the competition committee needs to remove the incentive for teams to do it (it should!). In the meantime, coaches are going to continue to do it. Even if they wouldn't want to watch it.
(HT: PBT)
