<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ryan @ Jan 25 2008, 12:15 PM)
<{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I also don't see any problem with Hack-A-Boone (although I'm also a Warriors fan). The Ws excell when other teams try to match up with them, not the other way around, so Nellie was just trying to get Boone out of the game since the Warriors don't really have anyone to match up with him. Nelson did the same thing to Wallace when they played Chicago, only that time he did it in the second quarter. I am glad for the kid that he hit his free throws because he is a good prospect and this could have killed his confidence and, imo, really hurt his development. I also give Frank alot of credit for leaving him out there. It takes balls to leave a 34% shooter on the floor knowing he's going straight back to the line.
I don't think the example of going for a 2 point conversion and an onside kick is a good one. I think a better analogy would be if a team has a crap cornerback, consistently going deep on him. It is a weakness on the opposing team and it's the coach's job to exploit it. As far as it not being basketball, I don't think that's true at all.
Free throws are, imo, the most important part of the game and I really think it is ridiculous that a professional basketball cannot make at least 80% of his free throws. It truly amazes me. They are the easiest shots in the game and should be a reflex to shoot accurately (being a Ws fan this is a sore spot for me, I've never seen a team give away so many games at the line).</div>
Honesty frontcourt players tend to get a pass for poor free throw shooting...For a big man whose game is predicated on post moves, putbacks, rebounding and defense it is a difficult skill to aquire. If it was an easy skill to gain then players would have higher percentages. Look at Shaq or Wilt Chamberlain both widely considered to be two of the best players in the history of the game or in Wilt's case maybe the best ever and they both struggled from the FT line with about 50% shooting. Looking at Boone's mechanics you'd think he's a good free throw shooter...he sets properly, bends at the knees and has the correct follow through. He just can't hit.