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OKLAHOMA CITY - The final seconds of Monday's thrilling NBA Western Conference finals game between the Oklahoma city Thunder and the Minnesota Timberwolves were marred by a familiar rule glitch that manny feel the league has failed to address. The Thunder secured a 128-126 victory, taking a 3-1 lead in the series.
The sequence of events will likely be familiar to NBA fans. With the Thunder leading 126-123 after Shai Gilgeous-Alexander missed a free throw with 7.1 seconds remaining, the Thunder intentionally fouled to prevent the Timberwolves from attempting a game-tying 3-pointer.Lu Dort fouled Naz Reid, who made both free throws, bringing Minnesota within one point. The Timberwolves then intentionally fouled Gilgeous-Alexander, who made both free throws, restoring the Thunder's three-point lead with six seconds left. Alex Caruso then committed a "take foul" on Anthony Edwards, stopping him from advancing the ball up the court.
The NBA has previously amended its rules to penalize "transition take fouls" that halt fast breaks, as these fouls are seen as detrimental to the game's excitement. Some observers argue that up-by-three take fouls shoudl be treated similarly, as they eliminate the possibility of a game-tying shot and benefit the offending team.
Understanding Intentional Fouls in the NBA
Intentional fouls are a strategic tool used in basketball, particularly in close games.
Definition: An intentional foul is a personal foul designed to stop the game clock, often employed by a team that is trailing late in the game.
purpose: The primary goal is to regain possession of the ball and have an chance to score.
Controversy: Critics argue that intentional fouls can disrupt the flow of the game and diminish the excitement of close contests.
NBA Rule Changes: the NBA has made adjustments to the rules regarding intentional fouls, specifically "transition take fouls," to address concerns about game flow and excitement.
In other sports, such as football and baseball, teams are not allowed to benefit from committing penalties or fouls. In football,penalties only move the offensive team closer to the end zone,while in baseball,a team cannot intentionally walk batters to avoid pitching to them.
One proposed solution is to enforce up-three fouls likewise as transition take fouls, awarding two free throws plus possession to the fouled team. Another suggestion is to give the fouled team the option to decline the penalty,putting the original time back on the clock. A third option is to award three free throws if the team up by three fouls outside the 3-point line.
In the Thunder-Timberwolves game, Edwards made the first free throw and intentionally missed the second, but the game ended with an unsuccessful desperation heave.
The current situation is seen as detrimental to the league's marketing efforts, as playoff games should be showcasing the most exciting moments of basketball.
The losing team also often intentionally fouls to extend the game, as the Timberwolves did in Monday's contest. One potential solution to address both intentional fouling strategies is the Elam Ending,which has been tested in All-Star games.In the elam Ending, the game clock is turned off at the four-minute mark of the fourth quarter, and teams play to a target score. This eliminates the incentive to foul,as any points scored only bring the opponent closer to the target number.
With the Elam Ending, teams focus on playing basketball, defending and scoring without manipulating the clock. Many observers feel that the current end-of-game scenarios are not true basketball and that the league should implement changes to address the issue.
