FOUL OR DEFEND GONE WRONG

Wednesday night the Milwaukee Bucks were on defense, up three and less than seven seconds to play against the Orlando Magic.

It was a perfect “foul or defend’ situation.

The ball went to Tobias Harris. As he made his move Bucks head coach Jim Boylan wanted his team to foul.

“It was under 5 seconds and we were trying to foul right there,” said Bucks head coach Jim Boylan. “They called a continuation.”

Rewind to February 19 of this year the Bucks were in the same situation against the Brooklyn Nets.  Milwaukee elected to defend and the Nets made a three – and later won the game in overtime.

Tobias Harris of the Magic had the ball with 5.2 seconds left in the game. Marquis Daniels went to give the foul and the ref made the call; but Harris launched the three-point shot and got the continuation.

Swish!

Nothing but net.

Possible four point play.

Luckily, Harris missed the free-throw and the game went to overtime.

It’s the first time this season in the NBA that the team using the “fouling” strategy has backfired. (Before the Bucks fouled Wednesday night, teams that gave the foul were a perfect 13 for 13 on the year when they fouled.)

“Everybody has all the stats and all the numbers (about late-game fouling when leading by three), but there’s a human factor in these games, too. You have to take that into account. He (Daniels) got there a little late.”

I have the stats Coach Boylan, your decision was a smart one.

Hoops135@hotmail.com

Twitter: @CoachFinamore

FOULING UP THREE…

Last night the Los Angeles Lakers were up three and decided to defend against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Ricky Rubio pushed the ball up the floor with 3.4 to play and got off a three. Kobe Bryant was close by, reaching out to try to block the shot. Some people thought Rubio got fouled.

Off shot.

No whistle.

Game over.

Arrive home safely.

“That’s not a foul. They ain’t calling that s—,” Bryant said after the game. “I don’t think I got him. That’s a tough call to make. I just put my hand in. It’s not like I went out and smacked him across the arm or anything like that. It is what it is.”

Would Bryant have been “surprised” if a foul was called?

“No. We would have gone into overtime and won the game. It’s as simple as that.”

BTW, the Lakers win was their 22nd straight over the T-Wolves.

Updated NBA numbers 2012-13:

101 cases

88 defended

21 gave up three

13 fouled – strategy worked for all 13.

Hoops135@hotmail.com

Twitter: @CoachFinamore

NETS FOUL, NETS FOUL!

For the 100th case of the year in our Foul or Defend study at the NBA level, the Brooklyn Nets found themselves up three on the Phoenix Suns last night, with less than seven seconds to play and on defense.

Deron Williams gave up a foul to Goran Dragic before he could get off a game-tying three-point shot.

Dragic went to the foul line where he made the first shot and missed the second on purpose.  The Suns grabbed the offensive rebound (a no-no of course) but missed the put back.

Game over, thanks for coming, arrive home safely.

For the thirteenth time this season, an NBA team has fouled in the Foul or Defend – for the thirteenth time the strategy has worked.

It’s also the second time this season under the guidance of PJ Carlesimo the Nets have had success fouling in the Foul or Defend.

What’s amazing is that I scanned the internet this morning looking for a mention of the Nets giving up a foul or a comment by PJ and not one story includes the strategy or a quote?

I wish a reporter would ask a coach in the post-game press conference about their decision.

Updated numbers in the NBA:

100 cases

13 fouled – 13 have won

87 defended

21 have made a game-tying three-point shot

24% success rate

HOOPS135@HOTMAIL.COM

TWITTER: @CoachFinamore

NBA – FOUL OR DEFEND

I was beginning to wonder if we would have any more situations in the NBA? I mean we went 12 days without a single late game situation where a team had a choice on whether to defend or foul?

But fear not, last night we had two cases.

The OKC Thunder up three on the Memphis Grizzlies decided to play defense and hope to come up with the stop but Jerryd Bayless had other ideas.

He banged a three with 3.7 to force OT where Memphis won the game.

It must be noted this is the third time OKC has given up a game-tying three relying on their defense.

In Cleveland, the Miami Heat were up three late when they too decided to defend but a three-pointer by CJ Miles was off target. I must say when you have defenders like Shane Battier and LeBron James, why bother fouling?

Updated numbers in the NBA:

95 situations

12 for 12 when teams have fouled.

83 defended

20 have given up a game tying three-point shot.

24% success rate

Hoops135@hotmail.com

Twitter: @CoachFinamore

FOUL OR DEFEND UPDATE

Five situations last night at the men’s D-1 level. Syracuse, Michigan State and Northwestern State all defend…

Men’s D-1 Update:

453 cases.

40 have fouled.

37 have won the game.

413 defended.

69 have made a three to tie the game.

16% success rate

Hoops135@hotmail.com

Twitter: @CoachFinamore