Tactical fouls

Question
Subject: Tactical fouls
Question -

Hi,
What is the reason for the resistance of the American couches about letting their players doing tactical fouls at the last seconds of the games when their teams leads even three points?
It seems very obvious that doing a tactical foul would be an huge adventage by this situation.
Thanks,

Emre Yazman

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Dear Mr. Fryer,

Thank you very much for your answer to my question.

I know the general tendency of the American coaches about this topic. What you wrote in your respons is more or less the same what I knew as its reasons or what generally known by the basketball-orientated people. That is why I need to answer some of your sentences and to ask a more focused question finally.


Tony Fryer Answers -
Coaches will do what they think is best for their personell/team against the opponents strengths & weaknesses - there is no general rule that applies to every situation, team or coach. I don't believe you can generalize and say all American coaches resist using this tactict.

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Of course I can not generalize and say "all" but I can say "most of them" easily.

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If you are referring to the NBA finals where the Pistons did not foul Shaq, consider the following:
Not one of the TV announcers said to foul Shaq BEFORE the play happened!

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In USA! In my country for example, the TV commentator said it clearly. But not Shaq, any player. I am sure that in many countries the commentators shared the same opinion and some of them might have been expressed this.

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Shaq only had the ball for about 2 seconds, so even if the players were told to foul - they might not have been able to!

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Was it a must to foul ONLY Shaq? Why couldn't they allowed to foul another players? The worst probability was that Lakers scored two points and then they had only two seconds without having any right to take a timeout.

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Finally, consider what Pistons coach Larry Brown said in a post game interview. Yes it's a gamble but... he knows his team is the best defensive team in the league - they only have to guard for a few seconds - he expects/has confidence that they will play good defense and stop the Lakers from scoring.

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Brown has right. To choose not to foul was a real gamble. But why gambling? Is it much more exiting so? At which altarnative is the probability higher for winning the game? "To expect/have confidence playing good defense and manage to stop the rival from three points scoring", or to avoid the rival of three points scoring letting him only two free shots?

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To try and foul would mean the offensive player would shoot a 3 pointer anyway - take the foul and have a chance for a 4 point play

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I do not think so. Why would it mean the offensive player would shoot a 3 pointer anyway? A normal (not during the shooting) foul would cause only 2 shots. The players of a team like Pistons are experienced enough to manage to do a "normal" foul and not a foul which would cause three shots. To have a chance not 4 but 3 point play is a fact. But its probability is very low. Even it becomes true, the conclusion would not be worse than to get a three pointer in his own basket.

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- it's happened several times before!

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How many times did it not happen?

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Now, my "more focused" question: What is the real motive for the most American coaches, not to choose a scientificly proved (I mean the probability computations) tactic which the game rules offer them?

Thank you in advance

Sincerely,

Emre Yazman


Answer
Emre,

I am not here to debate with you. If you need help or expertise, I will be happy to assist you.

However, this is not a question, it is a point of contention for you. As is, it presumes much, and leaves out several key factors.

I cannot help you in this format of email, nor do I wish to have on going dialog on this matter. If you feel coaches should direct their teams to foul, then do it your way.

Again, if you have other questions, or if I can help in any way - let me know.

Best Regards,

Coach Fryer