A Latvian guy on GSoM further translated the interview. Here's what he said: "I am Latvian and I watched the whole interview. The part about FT% he mentioned that every year coaches had tried to change something in his throwing technique, but at the end it all matters what happens in his head when he steps on the FT line. The inerviewer added that every year his FT % became better and better till the last year. Andris answered that somehow he lost confidence about making his FT and every time before he stepped on a FT line he became very nervous and couldnt think about right body movement or other throwing technique elements. Interviewer mentioned that he should go to talk to a psychologist and Andris told that he had spoken and he had some advises, but all in all it ends the same when he steps one that line and that he should deal with this by himself. Also he mentioned that it is like day and night for him to throw FT in a practices and during the games and that in practices he now and then easily makes 20or30 shots in a row. Then interviewer mentioned the fact about Nellie made him try underhanded FT technique.. Andris with some laughs told that one time Nellie actually mentioned this to him, but he said to coach that its is a ridiculous thought. Also he pointed that he understood that Nellie is a coach with old school thinking and that maybe he had saw one dude in the 70ies shooting in that way, but that is silly and it is mockery a little about him.." Obviously, and as predicted, the written translation on ww.net had some gaping holes. This sheds a lot of light on what many people have been saying that Andris isn’t being a hater, but just being casual and honest. It seems that a lot of his comments may be tongue-n-cheek. At Andris’ own admission, he says free throws is all mental. Even though last year’s technique was awful, the years prior weren’t that bad. And if he says he makes 20 to 30 in a row in practice, there’s no reason why he can’t do it in a game. Perhaps a radical change in technique would help, but if he knows he can make it shooting regular style, like 99.99999999999% of the world population, then I don’t really blame him for saying it’s a “ridiculous” proposition. At the same time, we would all wish a player would be open-minded at trying anything to improve their game, but that’s just not he case. The sooner we accept it, the sooner we can forgive AB for not shooting underhanded.
