For as great a player as Alpi is…..he sure sucks at free throws. He has cost us multiple games this year by not making vital free throws at the end of games. Very frustrating too watch his excellence throughout the game only to see him throw it all out the window by consistently choking on his free throws. Team needs to hire a free throw coach or something to fix this chronic and costly issue.
That is one of the Aspects that he will never be Jokic because Jokic came in as a rookie and shot 81-82% from Charity stripe. Joker was just a decent shooter in progress. You find ways around FT shooting and find that 2nd Super star.
Dude, do you remember like three months ago when he used to legit talk to the ball before taking each free throw? He explained in interviews that he said different things to it each time depending on how the ball had been behaving so far in the game. At least he has stopped that foolishness now and just whispers into space but still . . . I'm looking for a much more professional 'I deserve to be here' attitude from Alpi next year given that he's proven himself as the team's best player. I would hope that includes a much more streamlined free throw shooting routine. Thanks for hitting my pet peeve with Alpi!
I am sure he is not that bad, shooting a lot in close games is what will train him.......for later.... In the meantime you just have to find ways to make more 3 point shots.
Wilt was bad at free throws. Dwight was bad. Shaq was bad. Alperen consistently hovers at almost precisely 70%. Hakeem Olajuwon career FT%: .712 Alperen Sengun career FT%: .711 Giannis: 66% Sabonis: 69% Zion: 69% Yes. We would all cream If Alperen got up to 75+%...
I think the most important reason why he constantly misses especially at the end of the games is his fatigue. Sengun fights a lot physically and you can see how gassed he is at the end of the games.
Sure, a free throw coach will solve this problem. Rockets also need a fade away shot coach to ensure his Flamingo shot goes in with more consistency.
Dream’s first 6 years he was a 68% FT shooter. From years 7-13 years he jumped to 76%… Would love to see Alperen make a similar leap next year. 75%+ would be amazing. Alperen has a lot of responsibility right now and he is learning and processing a lot. I am not terribly worried about the free throws.
bro i’m just saying imo you miss 2 straight FT’s in the clutch that’s a case of nerves as opposed to skill
Fun fact.... Dream was 24-25yrs old his third year in the league, Alpi is 21. No, not saying that Alpi doesn't need to improve on his FT or that given some time he will improve at all, just putting some perspective on the Hakeem-Apli timelines. I'm not a shooting coach, so I'm not sure if it's mechanical/mental thing, BUT HE DOES NEED TO IMPROVE!! Regardless, that 23/19/14 with 2 steals stat line is a thing of beauty!! Go Rockets!!! ....... ....... .......
Am I the only one shouting at the TV to “Bend Your Knees!” He often shoots his free throws flat footed and it seems correlated with misses.
That’s great information…didn’t know he shot over 80% in Turkey. Seemed like his rookie year he was decent at free throws and it has gotten worse over time. He’s a clutch player when given the ball at the end of games so long as he doesn’t get fouled. Classic case of wanting it soooo much that the extra time of a free throw gets in his head mentally.
Normally I’d agree with that theory, but his other parts of the game (minus the free throws) are still excellent at the end of games. He still makes all his other shots at the end in the same manner as the rest of the game. It is almost assuredly a mental thing of trying too hard. He’s young and we can all hope he eventually gets better with the free throws. Not sure if pausing to talk to the ball may be hindering his mechanics and that is why I suggested hiring a professional free throw coach. Another poster mentioned that he doesn’t bend his knees enough. Hakeem has helped him with his moves, so maybe someone like Calvin Murphy could help him with free throws.
It’s not just him thiugh. The core 6 tend to miss free throws in the clutch. Jabari is an 80% shooter but he misses free throws in the clutch similar to senguna d has also cost us games . We lost the spurs game because he couldn’t ice the game. And almost lost the Knicks game because he couldn’t bothered throws. It’s frustrating but I attribute it to growing pains. It’s nothin worse than free throw anxiety at the end of games.
barkley used to say when the FT’s matter in the final minutes a lot of players’ sphincters start tightening up
