Game Thread Preseason Game #1 - Blazers vs Raptors in Vancouver BC

What I did like last night they play with pace off rebounds.

 

Which should be a reminder that these games mean nothing..... good or bad.

 

There's more to it than the physics involved. Shooting form and technique, muscle memory, confidence, etc. vary from shooter to shooter. I don't think anyone is saying everyone should shoot one way, or the other. Guys who have "wet" jumpers (Curry, Ray Allen, Steve Nash, etc.) also tend to be very good FT shooters. Guys who are not known for having a great jump shot (Shaq, Ben Wallace, Andre Drummond, DeAndre Jordan, Wilt, etc.) struggle at the line. Even though they have a higher release point than shorter players, they have no shooting touch. They shoot their FTs with very little arc and very little backspin. For these players, anything that "softens" their shot, with some added arc and backspin, regardless of release point, will get them a lot more kind bounces.

It really is a shame there is a stigma of unmanliness associated with the underhand FT. The NBA has tinkered with the intentional foul rule to try to decrease the "hack-a-whoever" fests that often happen when you have a poor FT shooter on the floor in a close game. Let's face it, is there anything more boring than watching constant play stoppages so Andre Drummond can go 13-36 from the "charity" stripe? The only way to stop such nonsense is to be a better FT shooter, and if that means shooting them underhanded, then that's what you should do. It's too bad Shaq was too insecure to do it. If one superstar big man would commit to doing it, others would follow his lead.

BNM

 

Especially with the way Stotts coaches in preseason. To him, it's more about evaluating the bubble and end of bench guys, trying different combinations, etc. than trying to win. He knows what he has in Dame, C.J., etc. So, he only plays them enough to break a light sweat and then gives the young guys some run.

BNM

 

Absolutely, no argument.

 

@Darkwebs could be in a comatose state and still not be on vacation enough for you to start working on the next game thread. Calm down there rookie. You'll get your chance....right after NK nukes the rest of the landscapers off of the planet.

 

According to what? TSN had it wrong. Aminu was the 4.

 

While we're at free throws debates, this is a fun video about Wilt's FT struggles (featuring the underhanded shot btw):



Worth watching!

 

I was hoping you wouldn't ask that... I don't have any links saved, so your odds of finding them are as good as mine.

 

On TV last they had Aminu has the 3 when flash the starting lineups. Plus Layman was guarding the 4. Aminu was guarding Leonard. Now on offense that might have change it around but defense Layman was the 4.

 

They actually was c.j. Myles who Layman was guarding they went small at the start. Plus Espn had Aminu has the PF. So you right TSN must had it wrong.

 

Dame asking Leonard: "How's life away from diva LA?" hahaha

 

I actually wrote "A real man wouldn't shoot underhand no matter what!!!" ?
Really?
Now i do remember saying that there is a reason coaches don't coach it and there were no top shooters that actually do use it. I also said this isn't the 60's though as has been stated Rick Barry used it in the 70's also. I do understand your stance. If you don't shoot well enough and granny style helps then why not? But i stand by my opinion. This is the NBA and granny style free throw shooting is simply out of place.
You are welcome to your opinion.

 

Why is it out of place unless your stance is that it's not manly?

 

I guess i just always thought that?
Don't really know why and i can't really give you a great answer other than what i have been told and coached?
Honestly Hoops I apologize if this has struck you as anything other than a simple opinion.
It worked for Rick Barry works fine for me if that is your response. Because it did in fact work well for Rick Barry. But nobody else really uses it and most coaches say it is uncoachable and not a reliable motion. But I am nothing more than a mere fan of the game so who knows?
Certainly not I.
Wizard has a pretty good response on it and it makes sense. Maybe all dudes taller than 5-10 should shoot the granny?

 

Nice response.

 

I look at granny style FTs the same as hook shots. If you're good at it, great. But not all people have the hand-eye coordination to be consistent with a shot that's not in their line of sight.

 

See that is totally reasonable. My point from the beginning is that it doesn't matter to me how someone shoots them if it works for them. I don't want Dame shooting underhand but maybe a guy like Ed Davis should have.

 

You say that coaches say it is not a reliable motion like that is a fact or something. It's not, in fact there is scientific evidence that it can be more reliable. Now I am not saying everyone should shoot granny style but to say that the Blazers shouldn't have signed this guy because he shoots them that way with no reason other than it looks stupid and shouldn't be in the NBA is completely dumb in my opinion. I asked you what it mattered how he shot them and you gave me a fucking lame answer about how you knew someone would ask you that question. Instead of it leading to a discussion about whether players who struggle with free throws should or shouldn't try shooting it that way you turned it into something else. You flat out made up your assertion that just about every coach thinks it is not a coachable shot. Let's face, people just don't shoot them that way because they don't want to be laughed at. I actually applaud Onuaku for trying it knowing how much ridicule he'd get for it. I also used the example of Barry's son Canyon shooting 88.3% in his senior year at Florida shooting them underhanded.

 

https://www.si.com/college-football...aku-started-shooting-granny-style-free-throws

You don't have to like it, but a well paid/known college coach suggested it to his freshman, and his freshman improved his %.