Expert: Jacob Lowder - 3/4/2001

Question
Am a new fan of basketball...have pulled most of what I know from the 'net...What is   "A foul to give?"  Announcers will mention this and I am in the dark.

Answer
Hello Lonnie,
 Well in basketball, there is a certain number of team fouls that a team can get in a quarter or half, and when they have exceeded that number, the team is in the penalty.  In the NBA, teams are allowed 5 team fouls, when they exceed 5, the other team shoots free throws eveytime there is a team foul, a team foul is any foul except offensive fouls and technicals and the like.  When a team has only 3 team fouls, then they can still get a foul and not have the other team shoot free throws, so when the quarter or half is winding down, then a team might take a foul, just to make the opposing team set the offense up again which will take time off the clock.  Also in NBA you are only allowed 2 team fouls in the last two minutes of each halfs.

Thank you for your question, I hope I have been of help.

Jacob Lowder