<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">OAKLAND -- When Stanford point guard Chris Hernandez stepped to the free-throw line in the final seconds Sunday against Washington needing to make three free throws to send the game into overtime, Warriors coach Mike Montgomery had no doubt they were going in. He was right. Hernandez, whom Montgomery coached when with the Cardinal, knocked down the free throws and the Cardinal won in overtime. "There's no player I'd rather have in that situation," Montgomery said. "That's what makes him what he is." If only his current players were as money from the free-throw line. Instead, Montgomery's Warriors are 26th (out of 30) in the league in free-throw percentage (71.6). Entering Monday, they were 29th over the last 10 games at 67.4 percent. In 10 of their 23 losses, the Warriors have missed enough free throws to cover the final deficit. So Montgomery pulled out one of his trusty drills to help the Warriors solve their free-throw shooting woes. The Warriors normally close practice by splitting up in twos and shooting a bunch of free throws. But after practice Monday, Montgomery changed things up. He put everybody on the baseline and called players one by one. Whoever he called had to walk to the line and make two free throws, alone on the court, while everyone else watched. A miss resulted in sprints for everyone. "It makes you want to make it more than going to the line and making 10 in a row or something," forward Mike Dunleavy said. Montgomery said it's the first time with the Warriors he's run this drill, which is designed to simulate game pressure. The Warriors' free-throw problems are somewhat technical but mostly mental. Montgomery said it's one thing to take 100 free throws in practice. It's easier to get into rhythm, easier to maintain focus when no one's watching. It's a whole different matter stepping to the line in front of 20,000 fans with something on the line and getting just two attempts. Oddly enough, guard Derek Fisher -- who at 86 percent is the team's best free-throw shooter with at least 10 attempts -- was the first to miss and send the team running.</div> Source
I dont know how well this approach works in the pros, but this is what I do with my Jr High/High School kids I have coached in the past. Not only does it make you take FTs seriously, but when you are winded from running and you immediately have to walk to the line to shoot FTs, it simulates the game and how you would have to shoot FTs. Plus everyone is depending on you to make those FTs. If you dont, you all gotta run. But I bet they dont even sprint in the pros so this drill is probably pointless...
He does this NOW huh? Jeez, maybe they could have used some intense drills earlier. Lets hope this works.
Well the Warriors need to go back to the basics, because they weren't doing the basics. Warriors only have enough talent to beat difficult teams if they play almost perfectly and that includes hitting free throws throughout the game. We just don't have the inside talent, the quickness, the rebounding, nor the defense to play Pistons/Spurs/Miami type of ball and shoot bad free throw %.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting custodianrules2:</div><div class="quote_post">Well the Warriors need to go back to the basics, because they weren't doing the basics. Warriors only have enough talent to beat difficult teams if they play almost perfectly and that includes hitting free throws throughout the game. We just don't have the inside talent, the quickness, the rebounding, nor the defense to play Pistons/Spurs/Miami type of ball and shoot bad free throw %.</div> Amen, it's just a sad statement when, in professional sports, the fundamental aspects of the game are a commodity. I can't believe we even have to talk about a "team who shoots well from the line" or a guy who "gives you maximum effort every night," like "oh my gosh, that Brian Cardinal, he's such a hustle guy, he does all the little things..." How you are even let into the league without the pre-requisite, basic, fundamental skills and work ethic is beyond me. I guess if you're 6' 10" and can throw down a windmill dunk, that sells tickets, even if you can't dribble with your offhand, make a two-hand bounce-pass, or god-forbid make more than half your free throws.
Now, or before... It's good that he's breaking the guys down and focusing on free throws and pressure.
