SAN ANTONIO -- Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich dislikes employing a "Hack-a-Shaq" type fouling strategy, but he's going to do it anyway.

Gregg Popovich ordered the Spurs to foul Dwight Howard seven straight times Tuesday. "I hate it," Popovich said. "... Seriously. I think it's a pain in the neck." Andrew Richardson/USA TODAY Sports

Popovich, who ordered his team to foul Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard seven straight times in the fourth quarter of Tuesday night's 97-90 loss, is not a fan of sending guys to the line -- but concedes it's part of the game.

"I hate it," Popovich said of the strategy before Wednesday night's game against the Chicago Bulls. "I think it's awful. I hate doing it. Seriously. I think it's a pain in the neck, fans don't like it, I don't like it, nobody likes it. It disrupts the flow of the game. If there's an equitable way to get rid of it, I'm all for it.

"But it's part of the game. It's part of the rules now and if you think somebody can't shoot a free throw you might as well take advantage of it. If you think somebody can't shoot you don't guard him the same way. So [the strategy's] fair, it's just kind of ugly I think."

The strategy has been around for years, but has gained more prominence of late because of Howard's struggles at the free throw line. He was 13-for-25 from the line last night and is shooting just 52 percent from the line this season.

Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau knows that coaches use the strategy from time to time, especially Popovich.