Yet again - the FIBA perspective
You may all be interested to know that it is because of this exact type of discussion that FIBA recently (about 4 years ago) changed its rules. We now no longer have an "intentional" foul, instead we only have an "unsportsmanlike" foul.
Basically the main difference is that now the intent of the player is irrelevant - it has been argued that unless you are a mind reader then you cannot judge what a player's intent was. Changing the rule to an "unsportsmanlike" foul allows the referee to simply judge the action - not the intent (or lack of) behind it.
I personally think this is one of the best rule changes made in the past few years, as it has all but removed the "But I went for the ball" arguement from players and coaches.
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