While the NBA trend has been toward a dramatic increase of the use of intentional fouls, NBA commissioner Adam Silver has become increasingly in favor of changing rules to limit or eliminate the tactic.
Though no changes will come this season, Silver said at his annual All Star weekend press conference that his opinion to oppose a change "is beginning to change on the issue."
He said the use of the strategy has increased 5.5 times this season. The Rockets have been at the center of that trend, with teams intentionally fouling Clint Capela and Dwight Howard, and with the Rockets intentionally fouling Andre Drummond on 12-consecutive possessions to start the first half of a game.