Record Number Of Free Throws Shot In Game 2 Houston Rockets Win Over Los Angeles Clippers

Ninety-six free throws were shot in Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinals between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Houston Rockets. The Rockets attempted 64 of those free throws, making 42 in their win at the Toyota Center in Houston. The series is now tied at 1-1.

The 64 free throw attempts were a playoff record for the Rockets. The Clippers though weren’t too pleased with their performance on Wednesday.

Clippers’ forward Blake Griffin said about the amount of free throws shot by Houston,

“You’re not going to win many games when the other team shoots 94 free throws, and they make more free throws than we even attempted… I don’t even know if we can equate that to intentionally fouling. I just think it was a poorly executed game from a lot of different standpoints.”

Houston Rockets head coach Kevin McHale said about the huge difference in free throw attempts:

“I heard them saying, ‘Well, they shot too many free throws.’ Well, quit hacking us… We shot a lot of free throws when you decide that you’re just going to get in the penalty and start hacking everybody. You end up (with your opponent) shooting a lot of free throws when you put in your backup, backup center to just grab guys.”

The hack-a strategy was implemented for both teams. Clippers’ center DeAndre Jordan was the early victim of the strategy, as he was in L.A.’s last series win against the San Antonio Spurs. Jordan needed to be taken out of the game to allow the Clippers to try to mount their offense. Without their big man down low, Los Angeles struggled defensively.

Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers said about the hack-a strategy,

“It makes it ugly. I think it’s something that we can do and both coaches are doing it… I know for a fact that neither coach likes doing it. It’s part of the strategy and until it is changed, we are going to continue to do it. It makes the game longer and obviously at times, in the San Antonio series for example, it works for you and at times it can backfire just because of the rhythm and the timing.”

Houston’s Dwight Howard and Josh Smith were also set upon by the hack-a strategy, fouling them both intentionally hoping they would miss their shot and slow down their team’s momentum.

Rivers said about the number of free throws shot by the Rockets,

“They were more aggressive and some of it was that we intentionally fouled… I think that number is misleading. They still went to the line more than they should have. But listen, they hit first all night, they were the instigator all night. They were aggressive and went to the free throw line. That’s on us.”

It looks as though going forward in these playoffs the hack-a strategy will continue to be implemented early and often. It remains to be seen if the league will address and change the rules regarding the hack-a strategy for next season.

[Photo: Twitter]