OT: Interesting article on free throw shooting

[crandc]

From the NY Times: free throws

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

Very interesting.

It still puzzles me why almost all NBA players and even college players cant shoot at least 85 percent. Playing as much hoops as they do it seems they should be better from the stripe. I havent played competive hoops since high school and I'm confident I could hit the court right now and shoot at least 80 percent from the line.

Since the mid-1960s, college men’s players have made about 69 percent of free throws, the unguarded 15-foot, 1-point shot awarded after a foul. In 1965, the rate was 69 percent. This season, as teams scramble for bids to the N.C.A.A. tournament, it was 68.8. It has dropped as low as 67.1 but never topped 70.

In the National Basketball Association, the average has been roughly 75 percent for more than 50 years. Players in college women’s basketball and the W.N.B.A. reached similar plateaus — about equal to the men — and stuck there.

 

[HailBlazers]

Here's your answer.

But even practice has never made perfect. The general rule is that players, in games, shoot 10 percentage points below their practice average. The difference is pressure and fatigue, hard to replicate in an empty arena.

Anyone can do it in practice. It's the game-time when your out their going full speed that it's tough to slow down and make the free throw.

 

[handiman]

Haven't read the article yet, but another big reason would be rhythm. You don't get in as much of a rhythm when you shoot only one or two FT's every 5 minutes or so. Not nearly as much of a rhythm as shooting 100 of them in a row in practice.

 

[THE HCP]

Very interesting.

It still puzzles me why almost all NBA players and even college players cant shoot at least 85 percent. Playing as much hoops as they do it seems they should be better from the stripe. I havent played competive hoops since high school and I'm confident I could hit the court right now and shoot at least 80 percent from the line.

I grew up always being able to play ball. Just always could. I could never make free-throws though! At some parks, you had to shoot FT's to get into the next game, I never could make 'em. At most parks where somebody would pick you up to run the next game, I'd always get picked up. It had to be a mental thing, cause I could hit shots with somebody in my face talkin' smack easier then a free throw all by myself!

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

I grew up always being able to play ball. Just always could. I could never make free-throws though! At some parks, you had to shoot FT's to get into the next game, I never could make 'em. At most parks where somebody would pick you up to run the next game, I'd always get picked up. It had to be a mental thing, cause I could hit shots with somebody in my face talkin' smack easier then a free throw all by myself!

That's because you are a mental midget!

 

[THE HCP]

Huh?

 

[julius]

Huh?

 

[Haakzilla]

...figured maybe this would be appropriate place for this interesting new trend in Korean basketball -- "Tim Duncan'ing" from the stripe ftw!!

 

[tlongII]

Very interesting.

It still puzzles me why almost all NBA players and even college players cant shoot at least 85 percent. Playing as much hoops as they do it seems they should be better from the stripe. I havent played competive hoops since high school and I'm confident I could hit the court right now and shoot at least 80 percent from the line.

I’ll take that bet! Lol

 

[KingSpeed]

Here's your answer.



Anyone can do it in practice. It's the game-time when your out their going full speed that it's tough to slow down and make the free throw.

Right, and you just got hit by a 250 lb dude. Plus, the free throws come sporadically throughout the game if at all. You don’t get to get in a groove. I don’t think anyone on this forum would shoot better than 20% from the FT line in a real NBA season.

 

[Whyachi]

Moses Brown shot 45% FT last year with LAC.
I've only seen 1 YouTube video of MB at the charity stripe. It was an old video. I do not know if Moses has fine tuned his form... but it looked like Chris Dudley shooting FT's with his off hand.

 

[Haakzilla]

Moses Brown shot 45% FT last year with LAC.
I've only seen 1 YouTube video of MB at the charity stripe. It was an old video. I do not know if Moses has fine tuned his form... but it looked like Chris Dudley shooting FT's with his off hand.

...he better start going for the bank or Rick Berry or BOTH!!