how can some NBA players be so horrible at shooting free throws?

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  • mgoblue
    Go Wings!
    • Jul 2002
    • 25477

    #1

    how can some NBA players be so horrible at shooting free throws?

    i mean I can hit 80%...are they just bad shooters? Big Ben and Shaq are the two on the top of my mind, but it's not like a free throw is that hard. With the money they make you'd think they'd be able to fix whatever issues they have, i dunno
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  • Shaver
    Legend
    • Jul 2002
    • 10148

    #2
    Re: how can some NBA players be so horrible at shooting free throws?

    Can you hit 80% consistently while:
    - Tired from playing in an NBA Tempo game
    - 20,000 people are cheering or booing
    - Beat up from bangin' and slappin' to get to the stripe
    - Consistently over the course of hundreds of free throws
    - As much as some people think this is a bogus reason...your hands are so much bigger than the ball. Think about shooting a softball at the rim.

    I think it's real easy to hit 80% in an empty gym. I bet Shaq and Ben are closer to that number in practice.
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    • mgoblue
      Go Wings!
      • Jul 2002
      • 25477

      #3
      Re: how can some NBA players be so horrible at shooting free throws?

      Originally posted by Clay_OS
      Can you hit 80% consistently while:
      - Tired from playing in an NBA Tempo game
      - 20,000 people are cheering or booing
      - Beat up from bangin' and slappin' to get to the stripe
      - Consistently over the course of hundreds of free throws
      - As much as some people think this is a bogus reason...your hands are so much bigger than the ball. Think about shooting a softball at the rim.

      I think it's real easy to hit 80% in an empty gym. I bet Shaq and Ben are closer to that number in practice.

      yes
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      • Shaver
        Legend
        • Jul 2002
        • 10148

        #4
        Re: how can some NBA players be so horrible at shooting free throws?

        Originally posted by mgoblue
        yes
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        • Graphik
          Pr*s*n*r#70460649
          • Oct 2002
          • 10582

          #5
          Re: how can some NBA players be so horrible at shooting free throws?

          Originally posted by Clay_OS
          Can you hit 80% consistently while:
          - Tired from playing in an NBA Tempo game
          - 20,000 people are cheering or booing
          - Beat up from bangin' and slappin' to get to the stripe
          - Consistently over the course of hundreds of free throws
          - As much as some people think this is a bogus reason...your hands are so much bigger than the ball. Think about shooting a softball at the rim.

          I think it's real easy to hit 80% in an empty gym. I bet Shaq and Ben are closer to that number in practice.

          I'm sure none of us has ever experience shooting freethows in those scenarios but you cant give these guys excuses when the upper majority of the league seems to have no problem doing hitting over 60%. Only reason I can come up with is that they dont spend a dedicated amount of time working on a free throw routine and focus their time elsewhere. Shaq has tried in the past but I dont think he's stayed dedicated to doing so.

          You need something of a jump shot in order to nail freethrows at a consistent rate. Something nethier Ben or Shaq has.
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          • dmoney24
            Rookie
            • Oct 2003
            • 143

            #6
            Re: how can some NBA players be so horrible at shooting free throws?

            It mainly has alot to do with how big those player's hands. It's almost like me shooting a nerf ball or a softball. I watched Shaq in Memphis a year ago. It's amazing how much bigger he is in person than on tv. Anyway hope that gives you a different perspective on a reason they struggle at the line.

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            • Graphik
              Pr*s*n*r#70460649
              • Oct 2002
              • 10582

              #7
              Re: how can some NBA players be so horrible at shooting free throws?

              Originally posted by dmoney24
              It mainly has alot to do with how big those player's hands. It's almost like me shooting a nerf ball or a softball. I watched Shaq in Memphis a year ago. It's amazing how much bigger he is in person than on tv. Anyway hope that gives you a different perspective on a reason they struggle at the line.

              I cant speak for any big men in the League or big man in general(5'9) but I perfected my jump shot by constantly practicing with a nerf ball and I know for sure that the nerf ball is small for my hands.
              http://neverfollow.biz (Independent Music Group)

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              • gez20
                Rookie
                • Aug 2003
                • 453

                #8
                Re: how can some NBA players be so horrible at shooting free throws?

                It probably has a lot to do with guys jumpshots to begin with. There's a ton of players in the league with bad shooting form. Obviously it's going to hurt you at the line if you can't shoot jumpshots properly. Another thing I've noticed is guys develop bad form and tendencies at the line. You'll see them at the line and their toes are pointing towards eachother, they don't bend their knees, put no arc on the ball, etc.

                I also think there's probably a big mental factor in there too. I've read some teams hire psychologists to help with the free throw shooting.

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                • Dynasty4Kobe
                  MVP
                  • Apr 2003
                  • 2769

                  #9
                  Re: how can some NBA players be so horrible at shooting free throws?

                  Shaq and Ben are big guys, who probably have trouble shooting consistently from distance because they don't work on that part of their game. I can't see Shaq practicing 15-20 footers.


                  Now what's really inexcusable is a player like Bowen, who has no trouble making outside shots, yet is a horrible free throw shooter.

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                  • Fierce2k4
                    Pro
                    • Jul 2002
                    • 533

                    #10
                    Re: how can some NBA players be so horrible at shooting free throws?

                    Originally posted by Dynasty4Kobe
                    Shaq and Ben are big guys, who probably have trouble shooting consistently from distance because they don't work on that part of their game. I can't see Shaq practicing 15-20 footers.


                    Now what's really inexcusable is a player like Bowen, who has no trouble making outside shots, yet is a horrible free throw shooter.
                    Yea, Bowen's trouble at the line has always been a mystery to me.
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                    • Kashanova
                      Hall Of Fame
                      • Aug 2003
                      • 12695

                      #11
                      Re: how can some NBA players be so horrible at shooting free throws?

                      i cant imagine how hard it is for shaq to show he had this huge hands but he had a good form when he made the 2 free throws in a roll

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                      • ifiok25
                        MVP
                        • Aug 2004
                        • 3509

                        #12
                        Re: how can some NBA players be so horrible at shooting free throws?

                        The thing is that free throw shooting is a lot harder than people think. When you watch the games on television it looks easy. When you are on that free throw line and everybody is loud the pressure mounts. Some guys just get nervous and tense and they consistently miss free throws. There have been so many games where free throws cost that team the game. It's a part of the game that sometimes gets overlooked but is a very important part of the game.

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                        • ipitythafool25
                          C*n*n FTW
                          • Dec 2002
                          • 771

                          #13
                          Re: how can some NBA players be so horrible at shooting free throws?

                          For me its mostly mental. When i played in highschool i was money from the 3 pt line, its basically how i scored. While i was a good dribbler,passer, and shooter overall..i just tended to always want to hit the three since i was so good at it. So being a great shooter youd think free throws would be a breeze, well they werent

                          I wasnt horrible by no means, but just something about stepping out of the flow of the game....just killed my rythem

                          Do i find it hard to believe that you can be in the NBA and shoot under 70 percent ..yes, but i also know exactly how frustrating it can be

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