by WonkoKevin

In the NBA playoffs this week my beloved Phoenix Suns lost to the hated San Antonio Spurs in part because the Spurs employed the “Hack-a-Shaq” strategy so successfully.  Shaq was sent to the line again and again and couldn’t put in his free throws.  Coach Mike D’Antoni almost appeared surprised, not knowing whether to leave Shaq in the game or not at the end of quarters.  Yet, why should anyone be surprised?  Hack-a-Shaq has existed for over a decade.  The Suns and their fans blamed the Spurs for using a “non-competitive” (but legal) tactic, much in the same way that Obama supporters have claimed “foul” over the Reverend Wright issue.  But isn’t it a matter of preparation?  If you know it’s coming, don’t you prepare for the risk?  Obama’s campaign, now in free fall due to Wright’s most recent comments, surely was aware of the Wright problem early on.  Why didn’t they take action before it exploded?  If Obama’s campaign says anything about Politics 2.0, it’s that you should listen to ALL the negative buzz and come up with defensive strategies, because you have to react quick when they emerge.  Let’s take a look at the early warning sings of the Wright problem: (more…)