This has something that has always boggled my mind when it came to the NBA. How could some players, superstars even be bad at shooting free throws.? It makes absolutely no sense to me when I see players that are great at so many different aspects of the game shoot a awful percentage at the line. A prime example of this is Dwight Howard who's shooting .478 from the line this season. That's just pathetic. Couldn't he practice maybe an hour a day just so he wouldn't be such an offensive liability when it came to the charity stripe? Hes just one of many. Al Horford is barely above the 50% clip, Hell Lebron is only making 66% of his free throws and he's the best player in the league. It's flat out ridiculous I've coached kids who have shot a better percentage from the line then Dwight Howard. So what is it that makes them so poor at it?
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Re: Free Throw Shooting
Shaq has said he used to practice all the time, and he still sucked. Some people just don't have it i guess."I'm addicted to Video Games, and i chase it with a little OS." -Winston Churchill -
Re: Free Throw Shooting
That's basically it. I know alot of people who think NBA player don't workout. But a lot of them do. Most NBA player work on their weakness. Some get better. Some don't it's that easy. Sometimes it clicks and sticks.Hands Down....Man Down - 2k9 memories
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IHP_5GUBQoComment
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Re: Free Throw Shooting
It makes even less sense when you think about the fact that a lot of the worst are bigs, have played the 4/5 theyre entire lives, and in every game as a kid/teen the opposing coach would have his players foul them.Comment
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Re: Free Throw Shooting
Like Vni said, big hands make it scientifically harder to hit free throws. There are exceptions (Dirk), but it holds true as a general rule.Originally posted by Kaiser WilhelmComment
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Last edited by JasonWilliams55; 11-30-2012, 07:57 PM."Most people would learn from their mistakes if they weren't so busy denying them"Comment
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Re: Free Throw Shooting
I really dont think it has anything to do with shooting. Something about the mindset and atmosphere that these guys cant shoot freethrows at better percentages.
I could only assume that a beast(prime) like Shaq didnt need to really practice his low post game. I could almost guarantee that Shaq could shot a better percentage in practice. Wouldnt surprise me if he hit 90/100 in practice everyday or shot 5/10 from the 3. But come game time something mentally happens.
It probably has something to do with knowing your a horrible freethrow shooter. Beidrins, Shaq, Dwight all suffer from this. At some point when your in the 50% range, you start being scared to get fouled. Mentally knowing your going to miss, and some times disappoint the team when points are needed.
Sorry multitasking with 10 different things and probably didnt get my full point across but should be up there somewhere lol.Comment
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I think the same happens with LeBron. I've saw him run off at least 20 straight 3s and in his and Durant's workout videos on YouTube the thing lasts like 10 minutes and LeBron doesn't miss a shot.. In games I think he second guesses the shot, that little pause throws him off..
Spolestra has him driving and almost never settling for jumpers.. I think if he would take the right ones and just shoot when he catches and he's open he could arguably become the best all around scoring threat ever..
No idea what is wrong with his free-throws though.. Maybe it's mental too, they seem to be getting progressively worse and not better. He has been nailing most of the crucial ones though, maybe he just needs to focus more at the line.Comment
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Re: Free Throw Shooting
Poor mechanics...
Almost all poor shooter have bad form. Repetition is useless if you're chucking the ball at the rim.
Not buying the big hands excuse. Dirk, Yao...Comment
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Re: Free Throw Shooting
From personal experience, the best technique to shoot a free throw is to line your dominant feet to the center of the basket and focus while shooting. I used to suck at free throws whereas I was a brilliant mid range shooter and almost never missed if left open. But I would miss 50% of my free throws. I was trained to stand straight (both feet aligned) while shooting the free throw and I found it really hard to shoot that way as it did not go well with my shooting form. Another factor that troubled me was no jumping. I found it way easier to knock down jump shots rather then standing still(which I prefer now as I got used to them). And when you go to shoot a free throw, with the break in the game you are bound to lose your focus and I think this is the main reason for superstars missing. To better my focus I used to blindfold myself and shoot in practices. I followed the just the rim and me theory which is what it is when you shoot a free throw. I blindfolded myself to not lose focus instead of actually focusing. It took a while but it worked.--------------------------------------------------------------------
LeBron James
Metallica
Stone Cold Steve AustinComment
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Re: Free Throw Shooting
If I was a coach I'd make any player that shot under 70% shoot their FT's one handed.
"You make your name in the regular season, and your fame in the postseason." - Clyde Frazier
"Beware of geeks bearing formulas." - Warren BuffetComment
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Re: Free Throw Shooting
If Steve Nash can be right handed but learn to shoot with both hands, then there's no reason why any player with at least one good arm can't shoot FT's.Comment
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