Stupid Basketball Question

[UConnSportsGuy]

After last nights “Basketball Game” it got me thinking: What is the history/reason for why players foul out in Basketball?

It is the only sport I can think of that forces their stars to miss the most important parts of the game (many times due to poor officiating).

Imagine if Kelce was disqualified in the playoffs after 3 offensive pass interference calls, or Gordie Howe was in the locker room in the 3rd due to 2 slashing penalties, or Roger Clemens kicked out of the World Series in the 4th inning because of two balks?

We nearly didn’t win our 2004 Championship due to Okafor having to sit out the majority of the Duke game.

There are penalties if a player commits a foul (free throws or possession for the other team). So why is it necessary to disqualify a player if they reach 5 fouls (or 6 in the NBA)?

I’ve never really thought about it before, but it seems so ridiculous when you sit back and think about it.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

You watched the game last night and walked away thinking, why aren't guys allowed to commit unlimited fouls?

 

[husky429]

After last nights “Basketball Game” it got me thinking: What is the history/reason for why players foul out in Basketball?

It is the only sport I can think of that forces their stars to miss the most important parts of the game (many times due to poor officiating).

Imagine if Kelce was disqualified in the playoffs after 3 offensive pass interference calls, or Gordie Howe was in the locker room in the 3rd due to 2 slashing penalties, or Roger Clemens kicked out of the World Series in the 4th inning because of two balks?

We nearly didn’t win our 2004 Championship due to Okafor having to sit out the majority of the Duke game.

There are penalties if a player commits a foul (free throws or possession for the other team). So why is it necessary to disqualify a player if they reach 5 fouls (or 6 in the NBA)?

I’ve never really thought about it before, but it seems so ridiculous when you sit back and think about it.

You could play a 90-second drill all game if players couldn't foul out. Would you enjoy that?

 

[QuickDraw]

football with a hoop

 

[uchusky32]

Havk a Shack every possession.

 

[UConnSwag11]

After last nights “Basketball Game” it got me thinking: What is the history/reason for why players foul out in Basketball?

It is the only sport I can think of that forces their stars to miss the most important parts of the game (many times due to poor officiating).

Imagine if Kelce was disqualified in the playoffs after 3 offensive pass interference calls, or Gordie Howe was in the locker room in the 3rd due to 2 slashing penalties, or Roger Clemens kicked out of the World Series in the 4th inning because of two balks?

We nearly didn’t win our 2004 Championship due to Okafor having to sit out the majority of the Duke game.

There are penalties if a player commits a foul (free throws or possession for the other team). So why is it necessary to disqualify a player if they reach 5 fouls (or 6 in the NBA)?

I’ve never really thought about it before, but it seems so ridiculous when you sit back and think about it.

 

[caw]

I missed those highlights from last night.

 

[prankster]

Cool idea.

I like it. Particularly the hockey approach.

Into the penalty box with you.

Now play 5 on 4 for 3 minutes.

 

[husky429]

Havk a Shack every possession.

If the game was played this way, Donovan would get smashed before he even touched the ball. Three-point shooters would be hammered on every shot. Layups would result in broken arms.

 

[bendm]

that's certainly a novel suggestion as far as rule changes go... i love the college game the way it is aside from the BE refs, and there's only two changes i'd like to see at the pro level:

1) widen the court to increase the distance of the 3pt line in the corners. it's too easy of a shot now.
2) there's no rhyme or reason for 82 games. there will soon be 32 teams (16/conference). get rid of the divisions and play each team in your conference 3x (if you play a team 2x at home and 1x away it would alternate the next year) and play each team in the other conference 2x (1x home and 1x away). that's a total 77 games.

 

[StllH8L8ner]

Start every game with a round of slap fighting.

 

[Ctedgeman]

They are just ripping off Bill Laimbeer's Combat Basketball for SNES

 

[Greedo]

Strategy would just become: wait for the other team’s poorest FT shooter to get the ball and then foul him.

 

[Poe]

10 hour free throw shooting contest

 

[alphasigko]

After last nights “Basketball Game” it got me thinking: What is the history/reason for why players foul out in Basketball?

It is the only sport I can think of that forces their stars to miss the most important parts of the game (many times due to poor officiating).

Imagine if Kelce was disqualified in the playoffs after 3 offensive pass interference calls, or Gordie Howe was in the locker room in the 3rd due to 2 slashing penalties, or Roger Clemens kicked out of the World Series in the 4th inning because of two balks?

We nearly didn’t win our 2004 Championship due to Okafor having to sit out the majority of the Duke game.

There are penalties if a player commits a foul (free throws or possession for the other team). So why is it necessary to disqualify a player if they reach 5 fouls (or 6 in the NBA)?

I’ve never really thought about it before, but it seems so ridiculous when you sit back and think about it.

Some history:

The case for ending the foul-out

The idea of removing players from the game after they commit their fourth or fifth or sixth personal foul has been in place for over 100 years. Indeed, disqualification of individual players is tod…

johngasaway.com

 

[Leebo]

You could effectively eliminate insane amounts of fouling while still not disqualifying players from the game.

For instance, you could say that everyone gets 5 normal fouls, and then their 6th foul and beyond have the same rules as a flagrant, where there are shots and possession. Or you could just give more foul shots.

Players would definitely not foul willy-nilly, but they could still be on the court after a 5th.

Just spitballing here, so I'm not saying that is the best way or anything, but it's easy to imagine other ways besides disqualification.

 

[storrsroars]

For instance, you could say that everyone gets 5 normal fouls, and then their 6th foul and beyond have the same rules as a flagrant, where there are shots and possession. Or you could just give more foul shots.

The link in the post above yours discusses potentially better options. The goal is fewer foul shots, not more.

 

[Woof 101]

After last nights “Basketball Game” it got me thinking: What is the history/reason for why players foul out in Basketball?

It is the only sport I can think of that forces their stars to miss the most important parts of the game (many times due to poor officiating).

Just my honest opinion but the game has evolved from ballet with a ball to gladiators with a ball.
It is no different on the women's side. Do realize that in football, soccer, hockey players are ejected for unnecessary roughness. That and some are suspended from playing for periods or an entire next game.

 

[Leebo]

The link in the post above yours discusses potentially better options. The goal is fewer foul shots, not more.

I thought the goal of what I was talking about was keeping the players in the game while also not having it be a wrestling match, but sure, it can be done with something that also keeps free throw totals low. I was spitballing, as I said, and one of my suggestions was in the article.

 

[bfs3]

After last nights “Basketball Game” it got me thinking: What is the history/reason for why players foul out in Basketball?

It is the only sport I can think of that forces their stars to miss the most important parts of the game (many times due to poor officiating).

Imagine if Kelce was disqualified in the playoffs after 3 offensive pass interference calls, or Gordie Howe was in the locker room in the 3rd due to 2 slashing penalties, or Roger Clemens kicked out of the World Series in the 4th inning because of two balks?

We nearly didn’t win our 2004 Championship due to Okafor having to sit out the majority of the Duke game.

There are penalties if a player commits a foul (free throws or possession for the other team). So why is it necessary to disqualify a player if they reach 5 fouls (or 6 in the NBA)?

I’ve never really thought about it before, but it seems so ridiculous when you sit back and think about it.

My first thought was, “Yeah…he’s right!”. Then I realized it would take more than one rule change to avoid turning it into a free throw competition. In either case it could potentially completely change the way a game is played and that alone makes it a non starter. There is strategy revolving around players potentially fouling out, it’s another part of the game players and coaches should master just like anything else.

 

[cullaville]

Interesting article about the time the Big East went to six fouls

A very brief history of the Big East’s 1990s-era experiment with six fouls

Every time my colleague Dick Vitale sees Zion Williamson take a seat on the bench after picking up two first-half fouls, he launches into an impassioned and loquacious plea (it’s true!) for i…

johngasaway.com

 

[boog204]

It's like they tried to take all the major sports and combine them into one. The only thing they're missing is a stick.

 

[RichZ]

If the game was played this way, Donovan would get smashed before he even touched the ball. Three-point shooters would be hammered on every shot. Layups would result in broken arms.

Yeah, just like it used to be in Washington Park in Bridgeport. When you ain't got no refs anyway, what's the difference?

 

[Steve UConn72]

Interesting article about the time the Big East went to six fouls

A very brief history of the Big East’s 1990s-era experiment with six fouls

Every time my colleague Dick Vitale sees Zion Williamson take a seat on the bench after picking up two first-half fouls, he launches into an impassioned and loquacious plea (it’s true!) for i…

johngasaway.com

I heard Donny mention that the other night. I didn't remember that.

 

[GameTime]

I am down for a 6 hour game that stops every 30 seconds.

 

[HuskyHawk]

After last nights “Basketball Game” it got me thinking: What is the history/reason for why players foul out in Basketball?

It is the only sport I can think of that forces their stars to miss the most important parts of the game (many times due to poor officiating).

Imagine if Kelce was disqualified in the playoffs after 3 offensive pass interference calls, or Gordie Howe was in the locker room in the 3rd due to 2 slashing penalties, or Roger Clemens kicked out of the World Series in the 4th inning because of two balks?

We nearly didn’t win our 2004 Championship due to Okafor having to sit out the majority of the Duke game.

There are penalties if a player commits a foul (free throws or possession for the other team). So why is it necessary to disqualify a player if they reach 5 fouls (or 6 in the NBA)?

I’ve never really thought about it before, but it seems so ridiculous when you sit back and think about it.

Well let's analyze that.

Hockey: you do sit out when you commit a foul. Would you prefer 2 to 4 minutes in a penalty box?
Soccer: two bad fouls and you're gone for the game, and the next one.
Baseball: pitcher who cheats is tossed. No way to commit fouls otherwise
Football: certain penalties will get you tossed.

So why? In most sports the other team isn't given a free chance to score when a foul is committed. You get an enhanced chance. Football you move forward or back. Soccer a free kick, which can be a chance to score (kind of like a shooting four). In basketball so many more scoring events occur than in any other sport. So awarding FTs is pretty minor as a penalty. So there has to be some larger penalty for continuing to foul.

I suppose you could let them stay in and award two shots and possession any time that player commits an additional foul. It's all about balancing the benefit to the team from fouling with the cost of the penalty. In basketball and soccer, I think the penalty is generally insufficient to discourage fouling. So with increased fouling you start to see escalating penalties.

 

[Gurleyman]

After last nights “Basketball Game” it got me thinking: What is the history/reason for why players foul out in Basketball?

It is the only sport I can think of that forces their stars to miss the most important parts of the game (many times due to poor officiating).

Imagine if Kelce was disqualified in the playoffs after 3 offensive pass interference calls, or Gordie Howe was in the locker room in the 3rd due to 2 slashing penalties, or Roger Clemens kicked out of the World Series in the 4th inning because of two balks?

We nearly didn’t win our 2004 Championship due to Okafor having to sit out the majority of the Duke game.

There are penalties if a player commits a foul (free throws or possession for the other team). So why is it necessary to disqualify a player if they reach 5 fouls (or 6 in the NBA)?

I’ve never really thought about it before, but it seems so ridiculous when you sit back and think about it.

Not sure of the origin, but I think the key is that it creates a personal, selfish incentive not to foul. If you want to play, you need to not foul a lot, or you’ll have to go to the bench. If it was just a rule like after your fifth foul, the other team gets two and the ball (as has been suggested), and it didn’t affect your personal playing time, you’d foul more freely and the game would get mucked up.

Soccer has the two yellows rule and water polo you are done after three penalties, so it isn’t necessarily unique to hoops. Soccer is a little different since the team has to play down a man, but water polo is a pretty similar dynamic.

 

[Palatine]

After last nights “Basketball Game” it got me thinking: What is the history/reason for why players foul out in Basketball?

It is the only sport I can think of that forces their stars to miss the most important parts of the game (many times due to poor officiating).

Imagine if Kelce was disqualified in the playoffs after 3 offensive pass interference calls, or Gordie Howe was in the locker room in the 3rd due to 2 slashing penalties, or Roger Clemens kicked out of the World Series in the 4th inning because of two balks?

We nearly didn’t win our 2004 Championship due to Okafor having to sit out the majority of the Duke game.

There are penalties if a player commits a foul (free throws or possession for the other team). So why is it necessary to disqualify a player if they reach 5 fouls (or 6 in the NBA)?

I’ve never really thought about it before, but it seems so ridiculous when you sit back and think about it.

Many sports send players of the field for violations. soccer, and hockey come to mind.

 

[freescooter]

If the game was played this way, Donovan would get smashed before he even touched the ball. Three-point shooters would be hammered on every shot. Layups would result in broken arms.

They would still get free throws so that would still be an incentive not to foul. Maybe bring back the old NBA rule 3 to make 2 as an added incentive.