Fouling Spurs before 2 minute mark?

External Since: Nov 12, 2006 Posts: 217

Isn't the rule that you can foul a player before the last 2 minutes
of the game in effect for the playoffs also? During
game(game 6) of PHX/SAN, the Suns whittled SA's lead down to 12 with
like 5 minutes to go. They could've just brought someone off the
bench(maybe Jalen Rose) to foul any SA player whenever SA had
possession, thus forcing them to make 2 FTs the rest of the way until
2 minute mark. I remember Don Nelson doing this several years ago when
he was at GS in a game against the Rockets fouling his old player
Larry Smith. I wonder why they didn't do it. It doesn't mean that they
would've won the game, but why not try it? Use all 6 fouls from
the selected player on the bench. Also, it can be away from the ball
too right? You don't actually have to foul the person with the ball?

External Since: Apr 23, 2007 Posts: 122

<zcarenow.RemoveThis@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1179974571.510612.82620@h2g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...
> Isn't the rule that you can foul a player before the last 2 minutes
> of the game in effect for the playoffs also? During
> game(game 6) of PHX/SAN, the Suns whittled SA's lead down to 12 with
> like 5 minutes to go. They could've just brought someone off the
> bench(maybe Jalen Rose) to foul any SA player whenever SA had
> possession, thus forcing them to make 2 FTs the rest of the way until
> 2 minute mark. I remember Don Nelson doing this several years ago when
> he was at GS in a game against the Rockets fouling his old player
> Larry Smith. I wonder why they didn't do it. It doesn't mean that they
> would've won the game, but why not try it? Use all 6 fouls from
> the selected player on the bench. Also, it can be away from the ball
> too right? You don't actually have to foul the person with the ball?

Brilliant strategy! Here's the problem. The person doing the fouling has
to stay on the court for the offensive sets as well, and as we learned this
series, the Suns aren't that deep. I was quite surprised to hear Pat Burke
say he has never practiced with Nash, and that he doesn't know any of the
plays Nash runs. I'm guessing the same applies for Rose and Piatkowski.
I'm just a layman, but my suggestion for improving the Suns is to practice
more, so players like Rose can be used effectively.