No longer leading the league in free throw shooting

[fumanchu]

OKC has taken the lead 80.9% to Portland's 80.6, and Dallas is right behind us at 80.2.

I wondered long it would last. It's great that we're up there though. I can't recall the Blazers every being a great free-throw shooting team.

I also wonder how important it is. If good free-throw shooting teams actually have greater success. The Spurs were never good at free-throws yet they did fine.

 

[fumanchu]

And we currently have the best defense in the league. Giving up only 88.87 PPG. Just ahead of Boston at 89.57.

And we are second to Boston in point differential +8.78 to +8.18.

 

[Natebishop3]

Very good signs. Defense and free throws win championships

 

[B-Roy]

We're also 6th in off. efficiency now and still 2nd in def. efficiency.

 

[mook]

Shaq and Duncan have always dragged down their teams' FT%, but they more than made up for it with dominant post games.

Looks to me like we're developing the best of both worlds.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

It's those damn technicals. I think I heard the percentage for T foul shots is the same, but I swear they constantly miss the techincal foul free throw.

 

[magnifier661]

OKC has taken the lead 80.9% to Portland's 80.6, and Dallas is right behind us at 80.2.

I wondered long it would last. It's great that we're up there though. I can't recall the Blazers every being a great free-throw shooting team.

I also wonder how important it is. If good free-throw shooting teams actually have greater success. The Spurs were never good at free-throws yet they did fine.

If we somehow manage to stay around 80% this season, it's a HUGE success. Especially since a lot of those shots from the charity stripe will be from Aldridge and Oden.

 

[BlazerBeliever]

Thank goodness!!!!!! Now hopefully I can quit hearing Mike and Mike say it 20 times a game. I want to know where we rank for free throw % in the last 5 minutes of a game.

 

[hasoos]

It's those damn technicals. I think I heard the percentage for T foul shots is the same, but I swear they constantly miss the techincal foul free throw.

That couldn't have been said better. At one point, Nate was making some real weird choices as to who would shoot the T. Then last game, he wised up, sent Rudy up to the line, and he bricked it. Sometimes you just can't win.

 

[julius]

Come on people, get your priorities straight!

Brandon Roy hates America, and HCP Is Molack!

 

[Minstrel]

Shaq and Duncan have always dragged down their teams' FT%, but they more than made up for it with dominant post games.

Looks to me like we're developing the best of both worlds.

Yup. And if Oden keeps up this free throw percentage, he can actually be a bit less dominant from the field and still equal their overall production by hitting more of his free throws.

Can you imagine what Shaq's points per game would have been had he been hitting 80% of his free throws? I'd imagine that it would have added another 3-4 PPG onto his already nearly 30 PPG.

 

[PapaG]

We're also 6th in off. efficiency now and still 2nd in def. efficiency.

It's amazing that the offensive efficiency has jumped from the low-teens to #6 since the line-up change. What's it been? 2 games? Miller has really improved the bench since being demoted. I really hope he buys into the role, because he seems to be very good at it. Plus, he was in during crunch time, which is all that really matters.