Why don't they practice MISSING freethrows?

What makes you think that they DON'T practice missing free throws? Just because Stotts didn't call for that to happen in this instance hardly means that it isn't something that they do practice for the occasions when the coach does want a miss. These guys are pros and you can bet they practice all phases of the game. I don't know why Stotts didn't call for a miss in that situation. Maybe he figured that the Clippers are too good at rebounding for there to be much chance of success and he chose to get the points and hope for a turnover.

 

I have seen plenty of NBA players attempt to miss a free throw but actually end up making it.

 

deandre jordan does that on about 50 percent of his miss attempts

 

In aiming to solve one problem in this thread, we have accidentally hit upon how to solve another problem...a new "addition by subraction" coaching technique to help free throw shooting by Ed Davis and Plumlee.

 

Again!!

Miss the second free throw at the end of a game and you give yourself a shot to rebound it and hit a three for the tie. But noooo, let's make them both and foul Demar DeRozen. How in the hell does that give you better odds?

It doesn't.

 

Your first mistake is expecting this team to rebound.

 

They're the best in the world at shooting basketballs, but they're not so pinpoint with accuracy that they can hit the rim at just the right arc and velocity that it caroms just over the closest rebounders (the opposing team). If they had that kind of accuracy, they'd shoot 100% from the line normally and nail every open shot.

 

For example, here's a play they could design pretty easily I bet: Practice hitting the front of the rim and sending a guy to that spot for a tipin; he would be the only one to know what's coming.

 

We practiced missing free throws tonight. The team should have come out and joined us. We could have taught them a thing or two.

 

There's even pics of Fonz "practicing"....

 

The two inside guys are boxing out to prevent exactly that, though. And in a situation like that, the opposing team would be on even higher alert for a missed free throw and rebound.

 

The two inside guys normally box out to the left and right.

I'm not saying it would work that often, it's a trick play for sure. But just as in football, sometimes those trick plays do work. Certainly it would be better odds than making both FTs, fouling, hoping they miss one, and hoping you hit a 3. That play NEVER works.