H1Man
03-22-2006, 12:34 AM
Why can't some players hit a free throw?
Why are some players good free-throw shooters and others mediocre, and still others lousy?
In the interest of time, it might be easier to explain the meaning of life - in every language spoken on this planet.
Consider a few Memphis Grizzlies past and present:
Point guard Damon Stoudamire was a streaky jump shooter, but an excellent - 85.5 percent - free-throw shooter and comfortable shooting free throws late in games.
As coach Mike Fratello said soon after Stoudamire's season-ending knee surgery, and must ruminate over in every close game, "That was huge."
Stoudamire's predecessor, Jason Williams, was also a streaky outside shooter.
But he was dependable on the free-throw line.
Mike Miller is a fantastic 3-point marksmen, but only a little better than average at the free-throw line and several times this season has missed when appointed to shoot the free throw after an opponent has been hit with a defensive 3-second technical.
"I'm changed (routines) a couple of times," Miller says of his free-throw shooting habits throughout his career. "I used to take a few more dribbles and now I'm just up there shooting it, really.
"I'm trying to make it like a regular jump shot."
In other words, he wants to feel that at ease.
Collectively, the Grizzlies have not been able to find a comfort level at the free-throw line this season.
They're in the bottom five in the NBA in free-throw percentage (.706), and with Stoudamire on the shelf, no one is over 80 percent.
"At least four or five games have got away from us because of free-throw shooting," says guard Bobby Jackson.
Their early season brick fest in Boston is the most obvious example, but there have been others.
Several weeks ago, Fratello shook up the team's practice routine in an effort to put more emphasis on free-throw shooting - charting all their free throws and shooting them after running drills to more closely simulate game conditions.
The Grizzlies, of course, are hardly the only team on track for the playoffs with free-shooting problems.
San Antonio and Miami are worse than the Grizzlies. Blame the Spurs' Tim Duncan and the Heat's Shaquille O'Neal for some, but not all, of that.
Pau Gasol shoots more free throws than any other Grizzly and his average mirrors that of his team.
He also has stretches where he's locked in. At one point this season, he made 29 in a row.
And here's another complication: Seemingly anybody can get "hot" from the free-throw line and anybody can go "cold."
"A lot of times for me, the toughest free throw is the first one of the game," says Dallas Maverick Jerry Stackhouse, traditionally a good free-throw shooter. "I might miss the first one and then not miss another one.
"It's just finding that touch. Once you're there, you remember it when you come back. I've had stretches where I've made 30-something in a row, then missed three or four in the same game."
Says Fratello: "Sometimes, when you miss one or two, it starts doing funny things to you. Is it short? Is it long? Sometimes, there's too much analyzing."
And sometimes there's a routine that would seem to be a hindrance, but is a help.
So it is with Washington's Gilbert Arenas. He now rotates the ball around his back several times and then gives the ball a little backspin flip in his hands before shooting. Odd? Yes. Effective? Also yes.
"I used to be one bounce and shoot," says Arenas. "My percentage has actually gone up. I used to be in the 70s and now I'm in the 80s."
He's right. Two years ago when he had a conventional routine, he shot 74.5 from the line. This season, he's over 82 percent.
"Everybody has to have a rhythm," says Jackson. "(Arenas) does the same thing."
He does the same thing now, which is different from what he did two or three years ago. Which would seem to be pretty strong circumstantial evidence that no player has to settle for being where he is now.
Karl Malone shot 48 percent as a rookie, 58 percent his second season and 70 percent his third year in the league. His percentage stayed in the 70s for 15 of the next 16 seasons.
"He's an example of how, if a player puts it in his mind he's going to improve, he's going to improve," says Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan. "Karl practiced in the summer, when he was (in the gym) by himself.
"It made him a better free-throw shooter. Everybody (else) would like to take credit for it, but that's not the way it works."
http://www.knoxnews.com/kns/basketball/article/0,1406,KNS_629_4546515,00.html
Why are some players good free-throw shooters and others mediocre, and still others lousy?
In the interest of time, it might be easier to explain the meaning of life - in every language spoken on this planet.
Consider a few Memphis Grizzlies past and present:
Point guard Damon Stoudamire was a streaky jump shooter, but an excellent - 85.5 percent - free-throw shooter and comfortable shooting free throws late in games.
As coach Mike Fratello said soon after Stoudamire's season-ending knee surgery, and must ruminate over in every close game, "That was huge."
Stoudamire's predecessor, Jason Williams, was also a streaky outside shooter.
But he was dependable on the free-throw line.
Mike Miller is a fantastic 3-point marksmen, but only a little better than average at the free-throw line and several times this season has missed when appointed to shoot the free throw after an opponent has been hit with a defensive 3-second technical.
"I'm changed (routines) a couple of times," Miller says of his free-throw shooting habits throughout his career. "I used to take a few more dribbles and now I'm just up there shooting it, really.
"I'm trying to make it like a regular jump shot."
In other words, he wants to feel that at ease.
Collectively, the Grizzlies have not been able to find a comfort level at the free-throw line this season.
They're in the bottom five in the NBA in free-throw percentage (.706), and with Stoudamire on the shelf, no one is over 80 percent.
"At least four or five games have got away from us because of free-throw shooting," says guard Bobby Jackson.
Their early season brick fest in Boston is the most obvious example, but there have been others.
Several weeks ago, Fratello shook up the team's practice routine in an effort to put more emphasis on free-throw shooting - charting all their free throws and shooting them after running drills to more closely simulate game conditions.
The Grizzlies, of course, are hardly the only team on track for the playoffs with free-shooting problems.
San Antonio and Miami are worse than the Grizzlies. Blame the Spurs' Tim Duncan and the Heat's Shaquille O'Neal for some, but not all, of that.
Pau Gasol shoots more free throws than any other Grizzly and his average mirrors that of his team.
He also has stretches where he's locked in. At one point this season, he made 29 in a row.
And here's another complication: Seemingly anybody can get "hot" from the free-throw line and anybody can go "cold."
"A lot of times for me, the toughest free throw is the first one of the game," says Dallas Maverick Jerry Stackhouse, traditionally a good free-throw shooter. "I might miss the first one and then not miss another one.
"It's just finding that touch. Once you're there, you remember it when you come back. I've had stretches where I've made 30-something in a row, then missed three or four in the same game."
Says Fratello: "Sometimes, when you miss one or two, it starts doing funny things to you. Is it short? Is it long? Sometimes, there's too much analyzing."
And sometimes there's a routine that would seem to be a hindrance, but is a help.
So it is with Washington's Gilbert Arenas. He now rotates the ball around his back several times and then gives the ball a little backspin flip in his hands before shooting. Odd? Yes. Effective? Also yes.
"I used to be one bounce and shoot," says Arenas. "My percentage has actually gone up. I used to be in the 70s and now I'm in the 80s."
He's right. Two years ago when he had a conventional routine, he shot 74.5 from the line. This season, he's over 82 percent.
"Everybody has to have a rhythm," says Jackson. "(Arenas) does the same thing."
He does the same thing now, which is different from what he did two or three years ago. Which would seem to be pretty strong circumstantial evidence that no player has to settle for being where he is now.
Karl Malone shot 48 percent as a rookie, 58 percent his second season and 70 percent his third year in the league. His percentage stayed in the 70s for 15 of the next 16 seasons.
"He's an example of how, if a player puts it in his mind he's going to improve, he's going to improve," says Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan. "Karl practiced in the summer, when he was (in the gym) by himself.
"It made him a better free-throw shooter. Everybody (else) would like to take credit for it, but that's not the way it works."
http://www.knoxnews.com/kns/basketball/article/0,1406,KNS_629_4546515,00.html