I think your 100% correct on this. I think that they started using these breakaway rims so that whenever you had a dunk the backboard wouldn't have to support all the weight of the player. And resulting in a nasty mess.

 

Yet Shaq finds a way to shatter it anyway.:lol:

If thats the case then that would mean that shooting %'s have gone up since the breakaway's have been used wouldn't it.

 

Doesn't mean shot selection has improved.

I think that some breakaways are tighter than others.

 

Ours (Brossart) which get very little (none) dunking traffic are still pretty tight, while the ones at Holy Cross are dead as evidenced by the thud sound that is made when the ball hits and sits on them.