Saw this on reddit thought yall might be interested. Pretty crazy the difference between practice and real game situations.
It always confuses me how Metta is a decent shooter, everytime he releases it feels like he's just lobbing the ball at the basket...
aside from the pressure of a real game, another factor might be that they shoot a large number of free throws in a row in practice. maybe dwight can sink his ft when he gets into a rhythm with his ft shots, but he's just not able to do it with 1 to 2 shots at a time yet.
There are 3 main factors why practice differs from real games: 1. you are making lot of shots in a row from the same position (after 2-3 shots you adjust and turn beast mode). 2. fatigue - it's harder to make baskets when you were running fast seconds later: heart beating, chest moving up, etc. Gives less control and feel on hands. 3. stress - emotions do its thing as well. But I think it is the least factor to consider. Game deciding FT's happen very rarely and players are mentally adjusted to normal FT.
Those 2 take a little dip, but it looks like for the guys who are automatic, they're still automatic in games.
On the contrary, I think the third factor is the most important. #1 is legit. #2 is the least factor. I assume that players practice FTs AFTER a normal practice, which would be tiring, although not as much as a game. Nerve, apart from shooting touch and rhythm, is definitely the most important factor for in-game FT shooting. It is the only basketball skill that does not depend on instinctive reflex. It is the only scoring where you have time to think about what you are doing. This is why bad FT shooters typically miss a bunch in a row. When they start missing, they lose confidence and tense up, which makes it more difficult to make the next one.
heard this on Mason and Ireland. I would guess Howard practices the most because he obviously needs it the most. and I would say fatigue is absolutely the #1 reason. no way to tell when they do their hundreds of free throws in a row, but it doesn't simulate game time situations. M & I suggested running sprints then doing the practice free throws.
One thing this does do is it puts aside the notion that Dwight doesn't practice free throws. On the contrary, he's shot more free throws than anybody on the team.
You would think they would play some games, do some drills...and then practice freethrows at some point.
