Changing the bonus from shooting to an option

[eg-italy]

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

Frankly, I support the idea. Just think of how much it would "clean up" the end of a close game. Defenders would have no reason to foul unless it was the result of them going for the ball. We wouldn't have all this controversy about whether or not a foul was intentional at the end of a game.

A lot of guys say that fouling at the end is just "part of the game". Well - it shouldn't be. Committing fouls on purpose is not what Dr. Naismith envisioned. I ought to know - I asked him personally.

Do you know that FIBA had this option until some years ago? After each foul with free throw penalty (except the additional free throw after a foul and made basket), the offended team could choose a throw in from the division line.

Now they've canceled this option and I agree with this decision: it forces player to learn how to shoot free throws. IMO this is better for the game, provided officials call correctly unsportsmanlike (intentional, in NF lingo) fouls when they are not like play fouls. We know that they are done on purpose, but we cannot judge the intent.

Ciao