free throws!

[citygriz]

my prediction: in the championship game of the big sky conference, montana wins the title at the free throw line. why? because we have already paid our dues! everything in life is cyclical, and we have lived the down cycle. free throws this year have cost us:
--the outright opportunity to host the tournament.
--a victory at cal.
--a victory over boise state, which last night put a ten-point whupping on san diego state, breakaing sdsu's lengthy home-court winning streak, and putting boise state into a tie for the mwc lead. that would have been a huge victory on our resume when the ncaa looked at tournament pairings. might have given us a 12-seed.
--a current record of 21-7.
who said, "free throws are like vitamins. you've got to have them." monty? i think so. against ewu yesterday, they were just what the doctor ordered.

 

[Silvertip]

Having watched way too much college b-ball I've come to the conclusion that there is a direct correlation between how much time is wasted in angst-driven gyrations at the line and free throw efficiency. Simple mechanics, people...simple mechanics.

 

[citygriz]

Having watched way too much college b-ball I've come to the conclusion that there is a direct correlation between how much time is wasted in angst-driven gyrations at the line and free throw efficiency. Simple mechanics, people...simple mechanics.

agree. the bafffling thing, too, about free throws, is that it is the one shot that doesn't change. from the time you can pick up a basketball, all through junior high and high school basketball, the free throw line is still 15 feet from the plane of the backboard. you have all that time to perfect your mechaincs, to get that shot down. it doesn't depend on phsical maturity, quickness, height, court awareness, even legs--why, stephen hawking could probably learn to shoot free throws. and yet even for many pros, it's one of the most difficult shots to make.

 

[citygriz]

one more thing about free throws. back in the day, many of the best free throw shooters shot underhanded. rick barry, especially. when you think about trajectories, especially for big men, this makes a lot of sense to me. and yet in today's macho world of basketball, i guess it's sissy-esque. too bad, because i think that style would help a lot of players.

 

[AZGrizFan]

Back in WHAT day? Rick Barry is remembered only BECAUSE he shot th underhanded. And in 35 years of watching the NBA he's the only one I remember doing it. (Although they tried to get Wilt to do it because his FT shooting suffered).

 

[Silvertip]

The old -fashioned "bucket shot" had the advantage of balancing out right hand/left hand bias to keep the ball on line - if nothing else. Today's conventional free throwers deal with overcoming the natural inclination to favor the dominant port or starboard side. Complicating matters, it's almost impossible to effectively hoist up this shot from chest mid line. My :twocents: worth...

 

[i do love the griz]

Having watched way too much college b-ball I've come to the conclusion that there is a direct correlation between how much time is wasted in angst-driven gyrations at the line and free throw efficiency. Simple mechanics, people...simple mechanics.

agree. the bafffling thing, too, about free throws, is that it is the one shot that doesn't change. from the time you can pick up a basketball, all through junior high and high school basketball, the free throw line is still 15 feet from the plane of the backboard. you have all that time to perfect your mechaincs, to get that shot down. it doesn't depend on phsical maturity, quickness, height, court awareness, even legs--why, stephen hawking could probably learn to shoot free throws. and yet even for many pros, it's one of the most difficult shots to make.

I generally agree on the simpler the better, but I've come to believe that Jordan Gregory is the exemption. It's all about what feels right. He managed to improve his shooting drastically this season by reverting to his weird little high school routine. Whatever works I guess.

 

[AZGrizFan]

Free throws won us the game last night....for a change!

 

[EverettGriz]

FTs are ALL about rhythm and confidence. And rhythm and confidence comes only from practice and repetition.

But since SportsCenter never shows a free throw, kids never practice them. And when they do, they're thinking of their next dunk move.

 

[CDAGRIZ]

Having watched way too much college b-ball I've come to the conclusion that there is a direct correlation between how much time is wasted in angst-driven gyrations at the line and free throw efficiency. Simple mechanics, people...simple mechanics.

agree. the bafffling thing, too, about free throws, is that it is the one shot that doesn't change. from the time you can pick up a basketball, all through junior high and high school basketball, the free throw line is still 15 feet from the plane of the backboard. you have all that time to perfect your mechaincs, to get that shot down. it doesn't depend on phsical maturity, quickness, height, court awareness, even legs--why, stephen hawking could probably learn to shoot free throws. and yet even for many pros, it's one of the most difficult shots to make.

:shock: Well, there's your problem! You're gonna short it every time!

 

[sacstateman]

And it is still 15 ft from the free throw line to the plane of the backboard......Whats your problem??

 

[CDAGRIZ]

And it is still 15 ft from the free throw line to the plane of the backboard......Whats your problem??

Yeah, I get that, but he's going to short it every time.

 

[citygriz]

Back in WHAT day? Rick Barry is remembered only BECAUSE he shot th underhanded. And in 35 years of watching the NBA he's the only one I remember doing it. (Although they tried to get Wilt to do it because his FT shooting suffered).

http://www.thepostgame.com/blog/eye-performance/201411/underhand-free-throw-shooting-george-johnson-rick-barry-deandre-jordan" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCLf3ltMsMI" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[AZGrizFan]

Having watched way too much college b-ball I've come to the conclusion that there is a direct correlation between how much time is wasted in angst-driven gyrations at the line and free throw efficiency. Simple mechanics, people...simple mechanics.

agree. the bafffling thing, too, about free throws, is that it is the one shot that doesn't change. from the time you can pick up a basketball, all through junior high and high school basketball, the free throw line is still 15 feet from the plane of the backboard. you have all that time to perfect your mechaincs, to get that shot down. it doesn't depend on phsical maturity, quickness, height, court awareness, even legs--why, stephen hawking could probably learn to shoot free throws. and yet even for many pros, it's one of the most difficult shots to make.

:shock: Well, there's your problem! You're gonna short it every time!

Um......no he's not. :? :? :?

 

[AZGrizFan]

Back in WHAT day? Rick Barry is remembered only BECAUSE he shot th underhanded. And in 35 years of watching the NBA he's the only one I remember doing it. (Although they tried to get Wilt to do it because his FT shooting suffered).

http://www.thepostgame.com/blog/eye-performance/201411/underhand-free-throw-shooting-george-johnson-rick-barry-deandre-jordan" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCLf3ltMsMI" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

OK. TWO. :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[CDAGRIZ]

Having watched way too much college b-ball I've come to the conclusion that there is a direct correlation between how much time is wasted in angst-driven gyrations at the line and free throw efficiency. Simple mechanics, people...simple mechanics.

agree. the bafffling thing, too, about free throws, is that it is the one shot that doesn't change. from the time you can pick up a basketball, all through junior high and high school basketball, the free throw line is still 15 feet from the plane of the backboard. you have all that time to perfect your mechaincs, to get that shot down. it doesn't depend on phsical maturity, quickness, height, court awareness, even legs--why, stephen hawking could probably learn to shoot free throws. and yet even for many pros, it's one of the most difficult shots to make.

:shock: Well, there's your problem! You're gonna short it every time!

Um......no he's not. :? :? :?

Ugh. Nevermind.

 

[citygriz]

well, you can talk about a dozen other qualities, but when it comes down to it in basketball, ya gotta be able to shoot the damned ball.

for years, i was so turned off by the one-on-one macho mentality in the nba, i simply quit watching. but steph curry and the warriors have brought me back. before this year, i would have said will cherry had a great chance in the nba, with his hustle, defensive prowess, and playmaking abilities. but as i watch the nba now, virtually night in a night out, i see all those guys pretty much have those skills--plus they can shoot the ball. boy, can they shoot. apart from the athleticism, it's the one thing that really distinguishes the nba from college ball. and poor will simply could not shoot the ball.

it's not an inconsquential thing, blowing off four critical games because you can't make free throws. this is something this coaching staff is going to have to work out, else we'll be consigned to dashed hopes, year in and year out.

 

[zengriz]

...those guys that make the sign of the cross...
...well it will never do them any good...
...if they can't make free throws...

... ray: ...

 

[IdaGriz01]

Back in WHAT day? Rick Barry is remembered only BECAUSE he shot them underhanded. And in 35 years of watching the NBA he's the only one I remember doing it. (Although they tried to get Wilt to do it because his FT shooting suffered).

http://www.thepostgame.com/blog/eye-performance/201411/underhand-free-throw-shooting-george-johnson-rick-barry-deandre-jordan" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCLf3ltMsMI" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

OK. TWO. :lol: :lol: :lol:

As I recall, when he had fully honed his technique, Barry could make 9 out of 10 blindfolded. I once saw a video of that, but have no idea if it's still around. He set his feet, put on the blindfold, and started making shots ... with a handler bringing the ball back so he never had to move his feet. I assume he set his hands on the ball based on the feel of the seems. Absolutely amazing.

I agree that players not trying the method is strictly an ego thing. Personally, if I were a coach and had an otherwise-solid player who hit less than 60% free throws, I'd sure pressure him into giving it a try. Particularly in college ball, where the last minute or so is often a free throw shooting contest. You almost can't afford to have a poor FT shooter on the floor at the end, no matter what else he brings to the table.

 

[UMGriz75]

I agree that players not trying the method is strictly an ego thing. Personally, if I were a coach and had an otherwise-solid player who hit less than 60% free throws, I'd sure pressure him into giving it a try. Particularly in college ball, where the last minute or so is often a free throw shooting contest. You almost can't afford to have a poor FT shooter on the floor at the end, no matter what else he brings to the table.

The Griz have certainly proven the truth of that this season.