re: Should basketball coaches be able to decline free throws?

quote:

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Declining free throws is an interesting idea, but this creates an inevitable problem:

LSU vs Ole Miss, final minute, LSU up by 8. Now, Ole Miss will play an unrealistically aggressive style of defense, desperately trying to steal the ball, knowing that a foul doesn't really hurt them. This will create all types of problems at the ends of games. Injuries and fights would inevitably increase because of the warped brand of last-minute basketball created. Ole Miss in this case ironically would commit more fouls here than they do with today's rules because they would be playing with a complete disregard for fouls.

Declining free throws would make the current situation far worse.

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Your scenario makes absolutely no sense.

1. This is about the "hack-a-whoever" rules. That deals with fouls off the ball. It has nothing to do with fouling the ball-handler at the end of a game to stop the clock and let them shoot free throws.

This has to do with purposely fouling a terrible free throw shooter in the 2nd quarter with 8 minutes still left on the clock every time the other team gets the ball so that they keep missing free throws and they can't play their offensive game.

2. There is already a rule in place about fouling off the ball away from the play in the last 2 minutes. It's a technical foul, 1 free throw and the ball. So your end of game scenario is moot.