Nelson's free throw shooting

[Duke12]

Any thoughts on the potential for Demarc to improve his free throw shooting this year. I really would like to see him drive and use his body to get fouled but his free throw shooting has been quite suspect with the front rim being a challenge.

[kydevil]

Any thoughts on the potential for Demarc to improve his free throw shooting this year. I really would like to see him drive and use his body to get fouled but his free throw shooting has been quite suspect with the front rim being a challenge.

I think a call to Rick Barry would do the trick!

[Clipsfan]

Didn't K say that it was a mental issue? I thought that I read somewhere that he shoots a high percentage in practice but struggles in games.

[jimsumner]

Certainly Nelson's problems at the line don't stem from a lack of practice. He's spent lots of time working on it. Chris Burgess also was pretty good in practice.

If you're going to get the yips on a basketball court, it is likely to be at the foul line. You're incredibly exposed and the other guys can and will give you lots of time to think about it if they think it will work.

Given Nelson's style, the difference between his making 59.3% and 80% could be a lot of points. Keep in mind that Henderson only made 62.7% last season and he's another guy who attacks the hoop. I think a lot of people forget how many clutch freebies Duke missed in close games last season. Make about five more foul shots and that 8-8 becomes 11-5.

Obviously there aren't too many Redicks around but his attitude was so assertive and positive. He wanted to be fouled and when he was his attitude was "you suckers, you just gave me two points. Just gave them away." That's the way to approach it.

[Cameron]

He can't be any worse this year than what Jason Williams was

I never understood how Jason was almost as accurate a three-point shooter from 25 feet with three guys jumping him than he was standing still from 10'.

Indiana 2002...

[VaDukie]

He can't be any worse this year than what Jason Williams was

I never understood how Jason was almost as accurate a three-point shooter from 25 feet with three guys jumping him than he was standing still from 10'.

Indiana 2002...

If Indiana doesn't get away with assaulting Boozer its a moot point.

[ACCBBallFan]

I think Nelson's poor FT shooting could be the result of expendig too much energy trying to guard the fastest guard, same reason his offense faded as game clock wound on.

With Nolan Smith on board to provide him an occasional rest, I expect Demarcus' charity stripe success to improve.

[Cameron]

If Indiana doesn't get away with assaulting Boozer its a moot point.

Good point. Senior warrior Matt Christensen tried his best at lawyering the call as the officials cowardly walked off the floor, but to no avail. Actually, for a second there I was afraid he was going to pull a gun

[Bob Green]

He can't be any worse this year than what Jason Williams was

I never understood how Jason was almost as accurate a three-point shooter from 25 feet with three guys jumping him than he was standing still from 10'.

Indiana 2002...

Wow! No wonder my FT % was so bad as I always had to shoot from 15'.
Seriously, I agree with you that the number of accurate long range gunners who cannot consistently knock down gimmes from the charity stripe is amazing.

[cspan37421]

Well, there is one mechanical difference, perhaps not trivial: you're not allowed to jump when shooting a free throw. You must keep your feet on the ground. That's a fundamental difference from nearly all other shots players take.

Also even your best 3pt shooters are going to be 40-45% from the 3pt line. Only the very worst are that low for FT shooting.

[Bob Green]

Well, there is one mechanical difference, perhaps not trivial: you're not allowed to jump when shooting a free throw. You must keep your feet on the ground. That's a fundamental difference from nearly all other shots players take.

Also even your best 3pt shooters are going to be 40-45% from the 3pt line. Only the very worst are that low for FT shooting.

You are correct but I would counter that not "having" to jump increases the accuracy of your shot.

[Cameron]

Wow! No wonder my FT % was so bad as I always had to shoot from 15'.

Lol, thanks for catching that. What a moron. I promise I knew that

Like you say, though, Bob, it really is amazing that many three-point specialists are also some of the worst foul shooters. I guess I would have to attribute that to the amount of time long range gunners tend to spend perfecting their three-point strokes rather than practicing such "easy" shots as free-throws. Or so they think...

I agree with some of the posts above, though. Hopefully DeMarcus can get his free-throw shooting percentage somewhere around 75 to 80 percent. Because, as jim eluded to above, this could lead to Nelson averaging a good 4 to 5 points more per game, which would make a HUGE difference on the outcome of close games.

[feldspar]

Well, there is one mechanical difference, perhaps not trivial: you're not allowed to jump when shooting a free throw. You must keep your feet on the ground. That's a fundamental difference from nearly all other shots players take.

Also even your best 3pt shooters are going to be 40-45% from the 3pt line. Only the very worst are that low for FT shooting.

Not true. You're absolutely allowed to leave the floor when you shoot a free throw. You just can't cross the plane of the FT line until the ball has struck the rim or backboard.

[bdh21]

Well, there is one mechanical difference, perhaps not trivial: you're not allowed to jump when shooting a free throw. You must keep your feet on the ground. That's a fundamental difference from nearly all other shots players take.

Also even your best 3pt shooters are going to be 40-45% from the 3pt line. Only the very worst are that low for FT shooting.

Minor nitpick here: There is no rule stating that a free throw shooter must keep his feet on the ground. Check it out if you'd like:

http://www.ncaa.org/library/rules/20...ball_rules.pdf

The reason you never see free throw shooters jumping is that a set shot is much more accurate than a jump shot for most players in most instances. The reason jump shots predominate in game situations is twofold:
1) A jump provides extra height to shoot over defenders.
2) Jumping helps increase range on longer shots.

Most coaches would agree that you're not permitted to jump on a free throw, but that would be their groundrule, not the referee's.

[JBDuke]

Not true. You're absolutely allowed to leave the floor when you shoot a free throw. You just can't cross the plane of the FT line until the ball has struck the rim or backboard.

IIRC, Billy McCaffrey left his feet slightly when he shot FTs. He basically shot a mini-jumper.

[Karl Beem]

Minor nitpick here: There is no rule stating that a free throw shooter must keep his feet on the ground. Check it out if you'd like:

http://www.ncaa.org/library/rules/20...ball_rules.pdf

The reason you never see free throw shooters jumping is that a set shot is much more accurate than a jump shot for most players in most instances. The reason jump shots predominate in game situations is twofold:
1) A jump provides extra height to shoot over defenders.
2) Jumping helps increase range on longer shots.

Most coaches would agree that you're not permitted to jump on a free throw, but that would be their groundrule, not the referee's.

I believe you're no longer allowed to cross the line, or at least you can't dunk. It's the Chamberlain rule. His freshman year, Wilt dunked his FTs.

[jimsumner]

Showing my age here but the great Hal Greer used to shoot a modest jump shot on foul shots and did quite well.

[gw67]

As a freshman, Nelson had a lot of movement in his shooting motion and he shot 53%. He improved his shooting technique as a soph and shot 65%. Last year he regressed to 59% although his technique appeared to be fine. It appears to me that he is not an above average shooter and the mid-sixties might be an upper bounds for him.

The Devils were not a good free throw shooting team last year (69%). Scheyer at 85% and Paulus at 75% were easily our best from the free throw line. Nelson, Henderson, McClure and Thomas were at 63% or below. Hopefully they improve a bit and the freshmen are good shooters.

gw67

[throatybeard]

You see a few of the smaller guards in WBB jump shoot FTs.

[Cameron]

What is King Taylor's free-throw shooting like? I'm way too lazy to look up his high school percentages, so, please, someone enlighten me with good news

With how good a shot he is, though, I wouldn't expect there to be a Jason Williams-like flaw in it.