Comments on: Why don’t NBA players make a higher percentage of their free throws?

By: hair chalk

hair chalk — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 03:40:38 +0000

Along with everything that seems to be building inside this particular subject material, a significant percentage of opinions tend to be fairly refreshing. In any event I did take pleasure in examining it.

By: Tim

Tim — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 15:13:18 +0000

@Dan: Could you show a graph of how free throw shooting percentages vary over different points in the game? If your theory is at least part of the explanation, there should probably be a trend downward in accuracy throughout the game with a bump up after halftime.

By: Patrick Hayes

Patrick Hayes — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 14:31:48 +0000

One theory I’ve heard: most of the youth coaches at the high school level and below in America are former guards. Because there are so few skilled big men, there are even fewer skilled big man coaches out there, so kids who are tall don’t always get the schooling in technique and footwork they need until they get to the college level.

By: Cliff

Cliff — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 13:00:26 +0000

is it true that ben wallance makes most of his free throws in shootarounds?

By: Jakob Eich

Jakob Eich — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 07:59:37 +0000

I also always wonder why big men nowadays rarely have a refined postgame. How many American 7-footers with sweet postmoves do you know? It’s like none of them exist anymore. Freethrow shooting still requires lots of practice and I believe most NBA players don’t want to spend an extra-hour in the gym to work on it. After all, they have a rigorous schedule and ought to be lifting weights and getting enough rest as well. The only solution is how OKC has solved it, namely by practicing it during practices. Ingenious approach, right? haha

By: Rodman4Life

Rodman4Life — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 03:38:22 +0000

I actually buy the bigger bodies over time argument, long arms, etc. But I also believe that if these big men could swallow their egos, underhanded free throw shooting could be the “cure” that they’re looking for. At least, I think they would find more fluidity of motion and therefore more overall accuracy.

By: DetSports1

DetSports1 — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 02:23:05 +0000

One counter to your theory…if it’s truly exhaustion/fatigue that is hindering the players, why don’t they shoot better in the 1st quarter than the 4th?

By: gordbrown

gordbrown — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 23:17:52 +0000

There are also the screaming fans, pressure to make free throws with the whole world watching, opposition coaches calling time outs to rattle you, opponents trying to get in your head (ok that happens in Church leagues as well) and the presence of Ben Wallace (all those cut muscles are an impediment to free throw shooting remembering my friend from college who had a sweet, sweet shot and threw it away to be on the rowing team). Like most things, overdetermined and multivaried.