There are two things about Hackamich that we have to keep in mind that we need to separate to continue to have this discussion.

Number one is what is aesthetically pleasing in watching basketball, and number two, a sound strategy.

I think we'd all agree that the idea of hacking a player, sending him to the free throw line,

not just because he's a bad free throw shooter, but with the hope of the other coach taking him out because he's such a force on defense is not aesthetically pleasing.

And if the NBA could legislate hacking players out and you can do it in a fair way, I'm certainly not against it.

But that's for the offseason.

For right now, what I do not understand, and I will use a baseball analogy, I could even use some football

analogies, is how people are offended by Joe Missoula using the hack of Mitch strategy.

Tommy brought it up a few days ago, like this is Bush League.

You even said it like it's emasculating, was the word you used.

Now, I get it, but I also know like like, certain times you've got to use strategies that

may not be aesthetically pleasing because they benefit you.

And the reason that Joe Missoula does it is because, A, Mitchell Robinson can't make a free throw.

And B, he knows the Celtics are a better team when Mitch isn't on the floor.

That's right.

So I don't understand.

It works. So even with the Celtics up big, they were using it.

And a lot of Nick fans were upset.

Like, how could you use this up 30?

Well, they just blew multiple leads.

Like, Joe Mazzula is showing respect to your team by saying, I don't want to risk it again.

I'm going to deploy a strategy that's smart. And so help me understand how that part's controversial.

...