Guys do you remember like in the preseason games total, he only missed like 2 or 3 free throws total. His free throws have gone downhill this season. He is like a 72.5 percent shooter, which he should be like 88 or 90 percent from the stripe. Also, Yao has not gone to the free throw line much so far this year. Yao should go to the line at least 8 times a game or even more. Guys feel free to chime in.
He's tired and has no push with his legs. He's overcompensating with his arms, and is clanging it off the back of the rim.
Nothing. You need to take into account of the circumstance. Last night he was dog tired; during the last few games, he's been playing more physically. His FT will go back to normal once he's conditioned.
Yeah, last year he was money on the clutch free throws. Last nigth he bricked 2 in a row. I was stunned. They look good, though. They just bounce hard out of the rim. Tough breaks. I think his shooting is sound. Sometimes they just don't fall though.
No. You've all got it wrong. How can Yao score a FT if he never gets the ball!!! My goodness... it's the stupid guards fault! ____________________ Yao for life in 2004! Go NBA Rockets! #11! (IROC it does his best Yao-only fan impression.)
It could be a combination of him being tired and a mental thing. I believe he said it was a mental lapse at the end of the Warriors game. Yao should be close to an 80% shooter. Anything less is unacceptable with his shooting touch. It does frustrate me when he shoots under 80% because he has the skill to be up there. He just needs to mentally block out the fatigue and the things around him during his shooting.
What's the chance of Yao getting next summer off and not have to play in the all important Asian games?
Yao's free throw % will improve over the course of the year just like it did last year. He will end up in the neighborhood of 80%.
Damn, I forgot all about those coming up. How long is he needed or wanted by the Chinese to play for them?
Yao Ming is making 74% of his FTs. If he had made 4 more, he would hit 80%. Assuming that he is truly a 80% FT shooter, it's not exactly so odd that he would be 4 shots off the pace at this point in the season. Perhaps this is just randomness working. If Yao Ming still kept his 74% after half a season, then I'd be worrying.
I'm not really worried about the games themselves. I'm pretty sure the Chinese NT would go 4 (or is it 5) and out like they always do. The schedule is pretty lax too. I'm more worried about the NT training though.
The guy is demanding a double team pretty much any time he is within 8-10 feet of the basket. He'll go to the line more and open up the offense more if he can quit bringing the ball down where other players can get their hands on it.
The simple response is he is just tired since he played more minutes now than last season. Another thing I observed is he released ball too quick on his FT, especially the second one. Normally, players take a couple dribbles to calm down, gather their breathe before take the shot. Yao, on the other side, always shot it once the ref handed the ball to him. Maybe he should just take a couple dribbles before he shoots it. --daoshi
Actually, Yao's # is not that bad considering his finess style. He ranks #15th in FT attempt per game, average just over 6 FT a game. AI leads the league at 10 FT per game, Shaq is at 8.8. I'd like to see him shoot FT at least 8 times a game, but Yao's game is about 30% power, 70% finess. If he can make it 50% power game, then you'll see his FT number up. --daoshi
I think it's just a matter of habits. After playing so many NBA games, Yao surely understands his right to dribble before he shoots the FT, but he still didn't. Why? That means he feels more comfortable to shoot in his own way.
