For the second time this season, a team has taken the hack-a-Howard defense to a new level. The Cleveland Cavaliers Friday night sent Dwight Howard to the line eight times in the last six minutes as they tried to climb back into the game.
The hack-a-Howard strategy started in the mid-90’s with another Magic center. When Shaquille O’Neal entered the NBA, his free throws skills were marginal at best so teams began fouling him intentionally rather than having him dominate in the paint. This strategy became known as “hack-a-Shaq”.
When Dwight Howard began dominating teams the way Shaq did, they took the same approach on the current Magic center. But this year teams have taken it to a new level. The new strategy was first adopted on January 12 by the Golden State Warriors. When the Magic were in Golden State during their four game west coast trip, the Warriors began fouling Howard at mid court as not to let him or the three point shooters have any opportunities. Howard took an...
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