An alternative to deliberate fouls in basketball?

[robvalue]

Background for those not familiar:

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You can score 2 or 3 points for a basket (goal) depending on where you shoot from. On each posession, a team has a certain amount of time to take a shot (24 seconds in NBA), and if they fail to do so, the ball is then turned over to the other team.

My question is about what happens near the end of a game. In certain situations, it will be possible for one team to refuse to shoot, and just guard the ball, allowing the shot clock to expire, to secure the game. For example, if I'm winning and I get a posession with less than 24 seconds left on the clock, I win unless the other team can steal the ball from me (not easy), or I get fouled.

What happens is that the other team will deliberately foul in this situation (making illegal contact). This usually leads to the possession ending, and being replaced with two "free throws". These are worth 1 point each, and then the other team gets posession (or has to grab a rebound if the second throw misses). The team making the foul hopes the winning team will miss the throws, giving them another posession to close the score gap. In the last 24 seconds of the game, there can be a string of deliberate fouls as the lead changes.

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I enjoy the tension of the closing part of a basketball game, but when it devolves into deliberate fouls, I find it a bit of a farce. It turns into a game of "tag" and free throws.

Do others feel this way? Are there any suggestions as to how this could be avoided with modifications to the rules? I don't have any clear ideas myself, which is frustrating.

Has this ever been sought to be addressed?

[brewer]

Kick the offender out? Give the other team 10 points? Automatic forfeit?

There is no good answer. Can you imagine the armchair reffing if they did anything else. Devolution into madness.

[henryp]

I know what you mean, but I don't think you can do away with it, because of all that goes into it.

They try to deny/intercept the inbounds pass. Possibly trap. Try to aggressively strip the ball. Try to keep the ball away from the best free throw shooter. Keep track of how many fouls the person committing the foul has. The offensive team can try to avoid the foul to run time off the clock. Etc...

It's a little lame at times, but I think it's the only workable solution.

[The Industrial Atheist]

Yes it's really fucking annoying. But the Coaches want to go for the possible win by way of fouling instead of forcing some sort of turnover. It's tough to get steals but they do happen. It's more likely to force a miss, but while the defenders are sticking to their men like glue the clock is winding down.

[Whateverist]

Got to agree, I don't think there is a better alternative. You'd basically have to drastically change the rules in the last five minutes (or?) and that would just be weird. If anyone comes up with a truly superior alternative I would definitely welcome it.

[robvalue]

Got to agree, I don't think there is a better alternative.  You'd basically have to drastically change the rules in the last five minutes (or?) and that would just be weird.  If anyone comes up with a truly superior alternative I would definitely welcome it.

Yeah, that's what I was thinking. Alter the shot clock depending on the score gap? Make fouls an automatic 3 point penalty? All solutions seem like they would do more harm than good.

By the way, someone had written "GAY" on the back of one of the player's shirts! How can they get away with such bullying?

[Minimalist]

Do others feel this way?

Nope.  I stopped watching basketball 30+ years ago.

Problem solved.

[robvalue]

I just started watching it again after not having it on my TV packages for 10-15 years, and I only recognize LeBron James out of all the players. I used to love watching Stockton and Malone. Stockton was my favourite player.

The Rapters were shit except for Vnice Carter before if I remember rightly, but now they're kicking ass!

I'm feeling the only alternative here would be to penalize the deliberate fouls so hard that you allow the shot clock to be run out instead. To be honest, I think I'd prefer that. I mean, you've had the whole fucking game to score points. I understand that wouldn't go down well with most fans though.

[Minimalist]

I recall exactly why I gave up on it.  I was watching the Knicks playing on the West Coast so the game started at 10:30 PM to begin with.  About 2 AM they were in the third overtime and someone called "Time Out" once too often.  I thought...."fuck it.  I don't care that much" and shut it off and went to bed.  Haven't watched since.

I know how to hold a grudge, man.

[The Industrial Atheist]

I just started watching it again after not having it on my TV packages for 10-15 years, and I only recognize LeBron James out of all the players. I used to love watching Stockton and Malone. Stockton was my favourite player.

The Rapters were shit except for Vnice Carter before if I remember rightly, but now they're kicking ass!

I'm feeling the only alternative here would be to penalize the deliberate fouls so hard that you allow the shot clock to be run out instead. To be honest, I think I'd prefer that. I mean, you've had the whole fucking game to score points. I understand that wouldn't go down well with most fans though.

I idolized Stockton. When I played in grades 7-8 I tried to emulate him. Except i was a slow hustle player, a PF-C because everyone on my team was so small. I always looked to pass, which really wasn't what Stockton did. He had serious scoring skills and could have  averaged 21-22 ppg if he wanted. The only thing i really had in common was that in the 8th grade i got 1.5 steals per game. I think I really just tried to pass to whoever had the better shot. Stockton should go down as one of GOAT at his position.
I kind of collected his cards. The Jazz team that went to the Finals was something special. Stockton, Malone, Hornacek. Even the young guy that took the place of Ty Corbin wasn't bad.