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Matt Walks, ESPN.com 9y

Listen: Adam Silver discusses Hack-a-Shaq, tanking on PTI

Commissioner Adam Silver joined Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon on Monday's Pardon The Interruption, touching on a variety of issues under discussion in the league today.

Silver's segment, which begins at the 14-minute mark of the podcast below, included these selected excerpts:

On reforming the league's division system:

"On the divisions, maybe they've outlived their usefulness. ... If we're gonna say divisions matter, then we have to go all out and it has to mean something to win it. Fans have to understand what division their teams are in, and I don't get the sense now anyone really understands it."

On the Hack-a-Player strategy:

"I've heard from some of the greatest at our owners meetings, Michael Jordan Larry Bird ... their view is guys gotta make their free throws. And that's influenced me. ... I'm reluctant to make a change [to that strategy]."

On the losing-to-win rebuilding strategy:

"It's a legitimate strategy in the league right now. I don't think by any means its a disgrace. ... I think [the 76ers] are free to try it. They haven't violated any of our rules. I get it, I'm a fan too -- it's not great basketball to watch, but I don't have an easy solution to it.

Click below to listen to Silver's full comments.

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