Well it's been one of our concerns, free throw shooting. Last year I don't think we were making them well, everybody still remembers game against Pistons (6/22) But looks like our guys have improved a lot at the line. In the 1st 3 preseason games the team is making near 83% from the charity stripe. Artest is a very good free throw shooter, so is Brent but he doesn't get to the line a lot. But what impressed me is Tracy, Landry and even Hayes. I mean they look like they feel a lot more confident at the line than last year. Landry is making 90% of his attempts, McGrady looked very confident hitting 8/9 and even Hayes made 2 big ones down the stretch. Another thing that is important is the fact that we are getting to the line A LOT. I mean, the past three games we have attempted 92 ft's which gives you over 30 per game. As players are hitting free throws they feel more comfortable to attack the basket. I am impressed but now the question is, can we keep it up in the regular season? Can McGrady shoot near 75%-80% from the line?
Thanks to the new players development coach being brought in. one of his main tasks was to help solve our free throw woes. especially tracy. mcgrady being our best player needs to be a better free throw shooter. hopefully last night was a right start.
If Hayes can make his freethrows, that means ALOT. Since he is the only player in our team who is talented enough to guard big men (he is much better than Artest guarding big men), all he needs to do is make sure he makes his layups and freethrows.
This is an underappreciated, but very important topic. Last year, we were near the bottom of the league in drawing fouls, and in converting at the line. In three games we've attempted 30.7 free throws a game, and shot 82.6% on them. Consider that in all of last season, we only had 1 3-game stretch where we shot that many per game, and only 4 3-game stretches where we shot that well from the line. I know we shouldn't make too much out of preseason stats, but this is encouraging.
the thing we have to understand is that tmac and yao will see LESS double teams, esp. tmac. it's easy to crowd yao b/c he's a big man, but tmac will see more single coverages (b/c artest's man will stay home and same with scola). look for tmac to go to the line more.
Scientifically, learning free throw is a kind of procedural memory, the same as learning to ride a bike, or to play a musical instrument. You just keep practicing and you will be good at it without having to recall explicitly how to do it. Being bad at free throw suggests laziness, nothing else. As long as they spend time to practice at the free throw line, they will do it well.
If the Rockets can improve their FT% to 75+%, the Rockets can already win 2/3+ more games by the improved point differential. I am a little bit disappointed at the Rockets FG% in pre-season games, but this squad has more offensive players. So, the Rockets should score better in this season. So, by estimation with the improvement in point differential, the Rockets can win 60+ games in this season.
But you know, when you shoot badly from the line you really don't want to get there so much. But when you feel the confidence, when you know those are sure points you just attack the rim and do everything to get there. Than it opens up a lot of open jumpers cause defenders know you're gonna attack and he needs to leave some space for you.
It was funny listening to Bullard comment at the end of the game on Chuck's FT shooting. He said something about Chuck working on his FTs and being a lot smoother now. After Chuck's 1st FT, he says "Umm... that's NOT what I saw in practice." Chuck is an outstanding defensive player though. I love having him at the end of the rotation.
If hayes can get a higher clip at the ft line, i think he be more aggressive in attacking the rim. There are times last year where chuck treat the ball like a time ball, he is so afraid of having the ball in his hands. Today FTs, tmr the 15ft jump shot, and then to take over the world!!!
Yes the FT shooting has really shock me. I knew we would get better but not this soon. As for Tracy I think he shooting the ball like he knows its going in and not like hes hoping its going in.
let's revisit this topic about 20 games into the season. I'm not ready to say they've conquered their FT demons yet.
(Bye bye harris, i do hope its another 7ft center other than the dinosaur Deke.) Great signature! I really agree with this one. I'm really impressed with our improved FT shooting and of course getting to the foul line more. But checking the stats from the 3 pre-season games, it looks like our shot-blocking has been non-existent due to the fact that we really don't have an enforcer like Deke. I still hope we can get some size in the backup C position who can address this need plus sign Deke in the middle of the season. Go Rockets!
I think that has more to do with lack of defense than it does lack of Deke. We are missing Shane, who did well shot blocking last year. There has been a lot of missed rotations defensively, so I think there will be a few more once we get that taken care of.
