Bigs in HS don't need to focus on other parts of their game because they're bigger than everyone else. Thus, they can practice shooting FT's a lot. In college but moreso the pros, bigs need to work on a lot of other things. And they get really really beat up and tired. Thus, FT shooting goes down. Generally. It's a combo of A-ish (not working on FT shooting as much as he could/should/used to) and most likely C (low sample + nerves + rookie/learning curve of game).. I'd wager Oden will be a 70% FT shooter in his career. He has a very good form but he'll never be Yao Ming.
Just as long as he's not a Shaq. FT wise anyway. I think he'll be find at the line. He does have a nice shot.
I think Greg's been pretty decent at the line this year. He definitely has good form for a big man, and I think it's my least worry about his game right now.
This points once again to the mental aspect of the game. The guy is under immense pressure, give him some time. Confidence will come.
Man, what else can you guys nitpick? Put yourself in his shoes. Think you'd handle it well? As has been said before its a mental issue right now.
Well, I'm just trying to grab at straws for anything positive for Greg. And he hasn't really hurt us with his FT shooting, and I don't feel like it's Shaq or Dudley going up to the line when he's shooting. I'm not too worried about it. Sure, he could've shot 100 FTs a day for the past year, but it's still different shooting in an arena in front of 20,000 screaming fans. Once he stops freaking himself out on the court, he'll feel more comfortable on the court and his FT shooting will come.
Wow, what a great point! /thread. He's (roughly) an 80% shooter in games where his FT shooting matters.
I think by the end of the year, he will be close to a 70% ft shooter, which is great for a center, imo.
That article includes his junior year, but not his senior year. He shot 78.3% from the line his senior year on 123 of 157 shots. I don't know if that was just an unusually good streak or not, but it did happen.
Well, he is like 62% now, and I think the more he uses his legs in his free throws, and the more he gets comfortable, I think he will imrpove by a couple percent. Its not like a huge sample size for him. Its been like 15ish games.
I'm sure the booing and all the other crap is affecting his game, including his FT's. He'll come around....think about the pressure on the guy.....he's a laid back dude, and all this press has got to fuck with your head man.
Yeah, but the NBA is a much bigger stage......and these guys are much much older than him too; think about it...number 1 pick, best big man in a long-ass time, super expectations...... idk, its all pretty damn stacked not in his favor...
He's played one season of real ball (in college), which lasted like 30 games. He's played 16 NBA games. Are we really banging on this guy for his FT percentage at this juncture? His FT shooting hasn't hurt us in any games. No one is using any Hack-A-Oden strategy. Greg will get better.
My experience is that it is very hard to accurately shoot FT when you are exhausted. I'm foolishly optimistic that when he gets into better shape, his FT% will naturally improve.
