I noticed in the game tonight when Zach Randolph got a technical, Yao shot the free throw. Yao has a great percentage from the line at about 83%, but usually Wesley or T-Mac shoots any technicals. Am I reading too much into this by thinking JVG is sending a message to the other players for their poor play as of late? No more padding the stats with easy FTs. I wonder how often in the past have teams let their big man shoot the technical free throw. If Yao hits the technicals then I'm sure JVG will keep having him shoot them.
About time he shot em. Against Denver, Tmac took one and missed. Being a 68% FT shooter at home, it didn't make much sense to me. At least JVG did the right thing and changed it up.
Yao is simply the best FT shooter on the team. The only person I'd have shooting technicals over Yao would be Jon Barry. And that's not an option anymore.
Shaq's got these HUGE mitts that pretty much don't allow him to use the off hand to guide the ball during a shot. So he's basically shooting FTs single handed. That's my guess.
wesley had the better ft% last season. i guess yao's ft accuracy took a hit early last season when he was carrying an arm injury.
Wesley had been the guy, but he's clanked a few lately. Yao's percentage is the best on the team, so he shoots 'em.
JVG goes with the %. I remember DA was our technical shooter early of the season. The more important question is: Do you guys feel confident with Yao shooting FT (opponent's intentional fouls) when the game is still on the line?
Shaq could go underhanded, the best freethrow shooter of all time shot that way. Shaq is just too proud, he can't shoot beyond 5 feet.....but he is still the deisel. DD
I think Phil Jackson mentioned a long time ago that Shaq can shoot free throw after free throw in practice but can't do it in a game. It sounds like a mental block to me.
