A Psychoanalytical Take on Dwight's Free Throw Issues

Dwight needs to take an extreme approach and go the opposite way - never practice another free throw again, ever.

Use the extra practice time to work on post moves and 3-pointers.

I promise this approach will work. I knows these things.

 

Nah. Its not in his head.

Its in his body, specifically his arms. Dwight's are arms strong as all get out, and they could use some loosening. If he could loosen his arms, he'd get better accuracy with his free throws and shooting in general.

He needs to work on his pecs, lats, and specifically bicep and tricep where they attach to his scapula. all the attachments sights in his armpit could use some work. His humerus could use some space and ability to freely move relative to his scapula, his clavicles could use some more mobility, etc etc.

I think its a huge disservice to put the problem "in his head". You're gonna make the poor guy crazy. Its not in his head, the problem is clearly in his muscles, his tight, short, strong, hypertrophied muscles.

 

If there were the case then why does he shoot so much better in practice? that's been well documented for his entire career.

How would you feel if you had to speak in front of 15,000 people? Do you think you would be nervous? Now what if you had to do something that you weren't too good at? I'm guessing most NORMAL people would feel pressure and stress and it would negatively impact their performance. That doesn't make them crazy.

 

To me, its just concentration. In college I remember going thru a ft slump. At the line I was thinking about what defense we were in,where was the guy I'm suppose to guard, or the last play. When I went to the ft line blank, shot ft at a higher level.

 

My take: he sucks at em. Thanks for reading.

 

I actually went back and found some footage of Dwight shooting free throws at 18 years old in summer league. Regardless of the psychological reasons, his form is completely busted and terrible compared to how it used to be.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMK4UXr3XrU#t=45s

Notice:
- Pushes with his legs
- Good follow through
- Didn't take a year to shoot the free throw, just stepped up and knocked it down