Men’s Basketball at Coastal Carolina on Thursday, January 11th in the year 2024 at 7 pm on ESPN+

[Bigdaddyg1]

All jokes aside and not to pick on the guy but it's absolutely baffling how any player can reach this level and look that inept shooting free throws. He's like a few others who are throwing the ball at the basket hoping it will fall in. No pre-shot routine, no bend of the knees, etc. While X is a tremendous athlete and can jump through the ceiling has he devoted way too much time to dunking? No realistic fan expects the players and team to shoot 90% but if we genuinely lose a big game because of lousy FT shooting that will be brutal. It's hard to make a comparison to football or baseball. Maybe laying down a bunt in baseball is similar.

[mike87]

if he could shoot free throws he'd be playing for an ACC team.

[NattyBumppo'sRevenge]

[Stonewall]

Ugh. Didn’t need that reminder.

[spacemonkey]

All jokes aside and not to pick on the guy but it's absolutely baffling how any player can reach this level and look that inept shooting free throws. He's like a few others who are throwing the ball at the basket hoping it will fall in. No pre-shot routine, no bend of the knees, etc. While X is a tremendous athlete and can jump through the ceiling has he devoted way too much time to dunking? No realistic fan expects the players and team to shoot 90% but if we genuinely lose a big game because of lousy FT shooting that will be brutal. It's hard to make a comparison to football or baseball. Maybe laying down a bunt in baseball is similar.

He is one of my all time favorites....He is fun to watch. He definitely gives it his all...TIGMA. I would like to see him shoot a 3 just to see what it looks like. On the PGA tour they hire psychologist to cope with mental blocks, I often wonder if it is a confidence thing. Anyway, he is the best at "posterizing" someone.

[704App]

I don't know anything about X's background, but a lot of times these super athletic kids never got true training growing up as their athleticism was enough for them to dominate. Once they get to the high level, it's hard to overcome years of improper mechanics without damaging other parts of their game.

[Stonewall]

If he could shoot he would be at UCLA . Great kid , really smart.Has come through some tough times, I’m pulling hard for him.

[appfanz]

Coastal does a promotion in the 2nd half of home games that if the opponent goes to the free throw line and misses both shots everybody wins a chick-fila sandwich. Guess who shot 2 free throws and guess who won a sandwich!

[scatman77]

if he could shoot free throws he'd be playing for an ACC team.

Hal Greer (Marshall, Philadelphia 76ers back in the 60's) always shot a jump shot at the FT line. His rationale was every time he did he was practicing his jumper and every time he shot a jumper he was practicing his FTs.

[NewApp]

Cool, scatman.

[Bigdaddyg1]

I disagree with the "if he could shoot he'd be at" arguments. Guys every year get drafted from Europe and smaller schools. Guys get to college and their games get better and they either transfer or stay where they are and are stars. Free throw shooting is all about mechanics and concentration. It takes no real athletic ability to shoot the ball 15'. It takes mental ability to block out the screaming fans behind the basket and to slow down your heartbeat and remain calm during a stressful game.

[Novaapp]

if he could shoot free throws he'd be playing for an ACC team.

Hal Greer (Marshall, Philadelphia 76ers back in the 60's) always shot a jump shot at the FT line. His rationale was every time he did he was practicing his jumper and every time he shot a jumper he was practicing his FTs.

Scatman
Interestingly, I was just watching a recording of the ‘69 All Star game. You can see Greer do this at 9:30 and another player at 6:58.

[scatman77]

Cool, scatman.

Rick Barry's technique is vastly underrated. Besides the explanations he and Red give, the trajectory of the ball after release gives the ball a much better chance of going in because the downward flight its almost vertically into the hoop. The more readily accepted form has the ball flight coming in at maybe a 45-55 degree angle.

I think the main thought is that no one wants to shoot "granny style" because it's not cool. You can't argue with Barry's results which I think was around 95% accuracy.

[Bigdaddyg1]

Very interesting. Pretty amazing that players could choose to do something that is legal and would probably be more effective but 100% choose not to do it- either underhand or a jump shot. Guys don't ever really take a 15' set shot but a couple of times a game do so at the line. When you think about it mentally that can be tough. In practice or playing it's all jump shots typically in rhythm but a free throw is completely different. I wonder how much better stats would be if a guy stood back from the line, took a dribble and then a jumper?

[Stonewall]

I disagree with the "if he could shoot he'd be at" arguments. Guys every year get drafted from Europe and smaller schools. Guys get to college and their games get better and they either transfer or stay where they are and are stars. Free throw shooting is all about mechanics and concentration. It takes no real athletic ability to shoot the ball 15'. It takes mental ability to block out the screaming fans behind the basket and to slow down your heartbeat and remain calm during a stressful game.

Not making an argument. Actually the “ if he could shoot he would be at UCLA” is a quote from a SunBelt coach.

[Bigdaddyg1]

I disagree with the "if he could shoot he'd be at" arguments. Guys every year get drafted from Europe and smaller schools. Guys get to college and their games get better and they either transfer or stay where they are and are stars. Free throw shooting is all about mechanics and concentration. It takes no real athletic ability to shoot the ball 15'. It takes mental ability to block out the screaming fans behind the basket and to slow down your heartbeat and remain calm during a stressful game.

Not making an argument. Actually the “ if he could shoot he would be at UCLA” is a quote from a SunBelt coach.

Gotcha. Kind of a crappy thing to say. If you could do a very important aspect of the game you would be at a major university. Since you can't shoot you are relegated to the Sunbelt.