I know others disagree, but I just think if you foul in the backcourt, you give the other team the chance to advance the ball 40-50 feet on the inbounds pass without the clock moving. Or if you foul in the frontcourt - you give the inbounds passer five seconds to stand still and weigh his passing options without the clock moving. These are advantages that you do not have going end to end with the clock moving. There are times it makes sense (if you feel like you're beaten off the dribble, or if the other team has a Tyus Edney type with a head of steam going crossing midcourt, or as free reign to gamble on going for a steal or a held ball). It's just become a rote thing - people just think it's standard strategy that you're supposed to give one if you have one, but many times there's nothing strategically gained from it. I just think coaches now do it because everyone else does, and they don't want to be second-guessed. The foul Teague tried to commit maybe was worth it, since Indiana had just taken a timeout to design something and diidnt have any more to design something else, but in hindsight if he had simply guarded his man, there wouldn't have been a guy open, since Miller had to leave his guy to help.