(02-22-2020, 02:25 PM)treetop11 Wrote: I've posted previously about our disadvantage in FTs for both MBB and WBB. Admittedly without going back and checking box scores but generally recalling them, our losses for both teams (except for Oregon with WBB and Kansas with MBB), or even closer games than should have been, arguably can be attributed to results at the FT line in terms of attempts, made FTs, and %. Overall, both our teams have less of all three than our opponents - and that includes the number of opponents in non-conference who are considerably weaker and it would be expected that we would have the advantage. Concurrent with this, subjectively it seems that our teams are getting called for more fouls than our opponents (notably conference) especially (and this is subjective) fouls committed by opponents not called or at least not consistent at both ends. And mostly, the disparity seems to show up in shooting fouls or ones due to opponents being in the bonus. So not only are we not getting to the line as much, we are compounding the problem by missing more when we do.
The disparity in attempts can either be:
- refs unfairly targeting our players unfairly or showing preference to our opponents
- our players simply create more fouls due to sloppiness, lack of q & a to avoid fouls, or lack of knowledge/training
- opponents do things that create fouls on us and our players don't know/don't do the same
- our styles of play are not conducive to drawing fouls; opponents play styles that do
- bad luck (e.g. refs not in position or are shielded from seeing fouls, accidental off-balance position by our player causes a foul, etc.)
Although bad luck happens, I tend to discount bad luck because there's no much of a pattern, rather tham being random.
I'm curious to know what others think and your observations on this topic.
As to missing FTs, it's troubling to me especially considering that both our teams in the past were exceptional and at the top of the conference. Now our opponents seem automatic at the line and in a number of games, they are perfect, at least for a most all the game. We struggle from the start (except for Terry and Williams) and miss quite a few front ends of one and one (MBB). It's frustrating watching opponents effortlessly tack on points at the FT line, while for our teams, it's always becoming an adventure (excepting our two PGs above). Is their FT defense that much better than ours? :)
It's not only the points that we fail to add, opponents making theirs and us missing affects both momentum and strategy of the game. Even something as basic as a missed FT allowing the other team to push the ball quickly up the court as opposed to taking the ball OOB and our defense setting up - but there is much more especially related to momentum where made FTs can stop a run and calm down a team. Worse, missed FTs are deflating. I really hate it when our player makes a great move on offense or gets a steal and ruin out, and then a defender deliberately fouls ti prevent our player from being able to put in it the basket for a score and then our player goes to the line and misses 1 or 2 FTs. Wasted opportunity but also waste of a great play that would pick up our team.
Sure would like to see these things improve for the balance of the season and post season.
The missed free throws are painful -- especially when it's by a player like Lexie who has been accurate at the line in the past. Tara says that the women practice and practice free throws, and in practice they are good. So what happens? Mental focus and tired legs are certainly issues that have to be considered.
So many questions about all this, possible solutions. For one, although the NBA free throw percentage career record currently belongs to Steph Curry, at just over 90%, Rick Barry is #7 on the list at 89% and he always shot free throws underhanded. Nearly everyone thought it was strange, but it worked. Not suggesting that Stanford players should do that, but I've never been able to forget it.