DeAndre Jordan on Spurs using Hack-a-DJ: 'It sucks. But at the same time we won'
This was 'Hack-a-DJ' on Red Bull.
The strategy has been a thing employed against the Clippers, but the last two games it's taken over games.
The Spurs started fouling DeAndre Jordan in the final minutes of the second quarter, and the game lasted 2 hours, 47 minutes. It ended after 1:30 a.m. on the East Coast.
Jordan took 28 free-throw attempts. The Spurs had 23 free-throw attempts as a team.
It all ended in success for the Clippers, as they hung on for a 119-115 win over the Spurs, their third consecutive victory.
"I wasn't as frustrated. It was like damn. After a while it kind of wears on you, getting hit by someone who is 250 pounds," Jordan said. "It sucks. But at the same time we won and that's a positive we won, and I was able to get some free-throw practice."
The previous game, the Rockets sent Jordan to the line for 26 free-throw attempts.
The Clippers have won both of those games. Hack-a-DJ is not only lengthening games, it's not working, at least in terms of the bottom line, which is wins. It's working in terms of Jordan not making as many free throws as he should. He's shooting 40.8 percent for the season.
Tim Duncan discussed the fouling strategy Thursday.
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"Me and him actually talked about it during the game," Jordan said. "He said, 'Man, I hate playing like that.' I said, 'I've just got to make them. He said, 'Yeah, once you start making them it's going to be tough. Teams are going to have a problem.' Hearing that from him is always great, a Hall of Famer like that. I've just got to continue to work and put my reps in."
Chris Paul said he tells Jordan that fouling him is a sign of respect because teams can't stop him any other way.
Jordan made just 10 of his free throws against the Spurs, but he made 12 of 26 against Houston.
"They were trying to foul me early and the refs weren't calling it," Jordan said. "I guess they wanted to make it known they were fouling me. It's something teams are going to use as a strategy to slow us down and get me mentally frustrated.
"Over the years, it's something that I've gotten used to. As long as we're getting stops and making them, it doesn't really matter."
Jordan had 26 points and 18 rebounds as the Clippers moved to 3-1 without Blake Griffin, who had surgery to remove a staph infection 10 days ago.
The Clippers didn't make a trade at the deadline, and Jordan -- who already was having the best season of his career -- is even better.
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Asked if he thought he was having his best season, Jordan said: "Numbers-wise yeah. All of it is confidence and getting an opportunity to play and play through mistakes."
Aron Baynes and Jordan had a moment near midcourt because Baynes tried to foul him until he got an official's attention, and Jordan tried to fling Baynes arm away from him.
Baynes said something to Jordan, who for the first time showed frustration with the Hack-a-DJ strategy.
"He's a pretty strong guy," Jordan said of Baynes, who is 6-foot-10, 254 pounds. "They were trying to foul me, barely, and the refs weren't calling it. I guess they were trying to make it known they were fouling me. But I'm big. I have feelings, too. That hurts a little bit."
After that annoyance, Jordan was his usual composed self.
"It's a rule. I hate it. I hate doing it. But it's a rule," said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. "Free throws are part of the game. It's a whole lot better than chasing Chris Paul around all day."
Many would beg to differ. Jordan hasn't let free throws change his outlook, and he doesn't take this issue too seriously.
"... I don't get upset anymore," Jordan said. "I just try to embrace it and make them or miss them and come down and get us a stop. That's the only thing I can do."
