Free throws

[PhilaPhans]

Completely random thought:

It really annoys me when any basketball player can't hit 70%+ of their free throws.

Especially big men. Half the game you get fouled. Why not practice shooting free throws as much as you do anything else?

Again, this is not solely a Rutgers rant, just something that really frustrates me.

 

[MadRU]

I am sure they practice, some players, especially bigs simply do not have touch. Many bigs were big early and only played near the basket. There are hall of famers that were bad foul shooters.

I get surprised when good shooters don't shoot better from the line. Otis Birdsong had one of the best looking jump shots ever, but he was awkward shooting foul shots.

 

[biazza38]

Practicing free throws isn't sexy. Learning the fundamentals is not cool. The other thing that annoys me is that guys can't make a bounce pass. How many times do you see a pass that gets deflected because a defender has their hand in the lain that could have easily been made if the player just threw a bounce pass below the defenders extended hand? It's frequent

 

[Scarlet Shack]

Free throw shooting is much about Strength and conditioning than anything else. If you are in good S&C...you can mentally focus better on the mechanics of good free throw shooting form and hit a higher percentage

So many Free throws are missed because of tired or wind...and NOT using the legs to shoot. These kids are so tall that all their arms need to do with a little leg into the shot is guide the ball.

Guys who are winded and weaker legs arm their free throws more and miss more...

 

[TDIrish1]

Correct--------and they can't bunt either. :)

 

[rutcor]

I am sure they practice, some players, especially bigs simply do not have touch.

Indeed. During the height of the "Hack a Shaq" era, O'Neal was putting a LOT of work into FT's and it didn't really help him.

He did, however, maintain his ability to jump up and rip the backboard and stanchion from it's foundation, so there's that.

 

[MADHAT1]

I remember Wilt the Stilt trying anything and everything to improve his FT shooting.
Nothing helped, even trying it underhanded like Rick Barry did.
Sometimes mentally a player just can't get over the hump and improve his FT shooting, but can improve other parts of his game.

 

[seels2662]

I think you'll love Freeman then. A slightly undersized big man doesn't average 19 points per game by missing free throws.

 

[higgins3]

Freeman and Lewis both shoot better than Jack from the line. Should be an upgrade there.