Giannis Free Throw Shooting

We’re on a good path. Gotta keep getting better. pic.twitter.com/BdxSe31PoO

— Giannis Ugo Antetokounmpo (@Giannis_An34) January 19, 2021

He doesn't need a sports psychologist. He just needs to find what works for him at the line.

I honestly think he should just aim for the center square on the backboard. Circle gets the square.

After missing his first FT last night badly vs. the Nets (very short), he made 6 of his last 7 and looked much more comfortable.

The only really embarrassing shot was his air ball 3 in the 4th quarter.

Looks like the answer was putting a rabbits foot in each sock.

Hey, whatever works.

Still think he should be calling Rick Barry !!!

Barry’s shot probably would be an improvement because it’s a smoother motion with no opportunity for a hitch to come into play.

The bad news is it’s not cool. Hell, we called it “Granny shooting” on the playground in the early 70’s.

@Blair Kiel posted:

Barry’s shot probably would be an improvement because it’s a smoother motion with no opportunity for a hitch to come into play.

The bad news is it’s not cool. Hell, we called it “Granny shooting” on the playground in the early 70’s.

It is beyond comprehension that players who look for every little advantage with hyperbaric chambers, nutritionists, psychologists, etc. wouldn't just shoot the Rick Barry FTs.

Chamberlain did it one year and shot 61%, by far the best of his career. If you take that year out he was under 50% for his career.

https://www.theladders.com/car...-when-we-know-better

I wonder if Giannis ever considered this?

This problem has always been in his head. I’ll wager the catharsis will be hoisting a LOB...

Giannis is now 22 for 30 from the line in February.

73% is a nice trend.

Giannis up to 45 for 60 for the month after last night's outstanding 17 for 21.

Not sure would trade him for anybody ever.

@MichiganPacker2 posted:

Giannis up to 45 for 60 for the month after last night's outstanding 17 for 21.

If Giannis was shooting 75% from the line this season, he would have scored 28 more points this year. He’d be 5th instead of 6th in points at 29.2 ppg and the Bucks might have beaten the Nets and Celtics.

@Music City posted:

If Giannis was shooting 75% from the line this season, he would have scored 28 more points this year. He’d be 5th instead of 6th in points at 29.2 ppg and the Bucks might have beaten the Nets and Celtics.

Game 3 of the ECF vs. the Raptors in 2019 (if the Bucks don't win a title with Giannis this may go down as the biggest inflection point in franchise history post-Kareem). Giannis was 2 for 7 from the line in regulation in a game that went OT.

Game 5 of the same series. Giannis was 4 for 9 from the line in a game that was tied at 93 with under two and a half minutes left.

Game 6 of the same series. Giannis was 5 for 10 from the line in a game that was a 3 point deficit with under 30 seconds left.

Miami series, 2020

Game 1. Giannis was 4 for 12 from the line in a game the Bucks lead by 1 with 6 minutes left.

If he shot 70% from the line in the Raptors series, the Bucks would have a title. The whole tone of the Heat series would have changed last year as well.

@MichiganPacker2 posted:

Giannis up to 45 for 60 for the month after last night's outstanding 17 for 21.

Giannis goes 7 for 9 over the last two games of the road trip and is now 52 of 69 for the month (75.4%).

Now at 64% for the year.

Now that's a good trend line.

Overall % up to 66% now. The hard work is paying off. No coincidence he’s scoring more with less usage the last couple weeks.

@Music City posted:

Overall % up to 66% now. The hard work is paying off. No coincidence he’s scoring more with less usage the last couple weeks.

106 for 142 this month. 74.6%

Giannis is 20 for 21 from the line since the all-star break.

Now at 67.7% for the year.

It looks like he’s comfortable again. It was always in his head... he’s so much more dangerous now that he’s making them.

There’s also a certain confidence brewing in him. He’s truly closing the gap now. The guy’s better now than ever.

Earlier in the year Giannis tried to force things too much but he’s been much better with his decision making lately.  Combine that with FTs and he really truly has played at an MVP level for the past 10+ games or so.

He’s playing at a very high level.  In control and under control.  It’s like the game has slowed down for him and he’s taking the next step as a player.   He’s taking and making the turnaround jumper, he’s improving at the FT line, and he’s looking to pass a little more.  

Yet hardly anyone is talking about him or the Bucks.  Kind of like how the Miami Heat have vaulted back into the conversation and all people want to talk about is the Nets and Lakers.

@Tschmack posted:

He’s playing at a very high level.  In control and under control.  It’s like the game has slowed down for him and he’s taking the next step as a player.   He’s taking and making the turnaround jumper, he’s improving at the FT line, and he’s looking to pass a little more.  

Yet hardly anyone is talking about him or the Bucks.  Kind of like how the Miami Heat have vaulted back into the conversation and all people want to talk about is the Nets and Lakers.

It's all about the New York and Los Angeles TV markets (and the fact that a disproportionate percentage of the media live there).

After Giannis remained a Buck, the media quit talking about the Bucks. It's somewhat irritating, but they really aren't pushing anyone but the Nets, Lakers, or maybe the Clippers now. The Sixers aren't getting as much press as they probably should and the Jazz and Suns are mentioned only in passing.

Fans of the rest of the NBA teams are fortunate that James Dolan is such a lousy owner that no one wants to play for the Knicks. Otherwise, they'd be a superteam also. Miami is always on the fringe of this too because of the lifestyle and the weather.

@MichiganPacker2 posted:

Fans of the rest of the NBA teams are fortunate that James Dolan is such a lousy owner that no one wants to play for the Knicks. Otherwise, they'd be a superteam also. Miami is always on the fringe of this too because of the lifestyle and the weather.

Brooklyn as it’s currently constructed would not be if the Knicks were viable. All 3 guys would be Knicks- they all wanted to be until Dolan did Dolan things.