Mavs Free Throw Shooting Problems/Unlucky?

[particleman]

I wasn't sure, but I had the feeling throughout the season that other teams were shooting abnormally well against us at the free throw line. I finally looked it up today, and sure enough we're second in the league in oppFT%, with opponents shooting about 81% against us. What's interesting is that we're seventh in the league in FT% at about 79%, but that's been completely negated by the hot FT shooting of the teams we've played.

Not trying to make excuses or anything, and obviously this fails to take into account any number of relevant factors... but when you look at the close games we've played this season, it definitely seems we've been a bit unlucky when it comes to our opponents having hot nights at the FT line.

12/13/08
DAL 103-99 OKC
OKC 94% on 16-17

12/11/08
DAL 95-90 CHA
CHA 63% on 12-19

12/9/08
DAL 126-133 SA (2OT)
SAN 86% on 25-29

12/6/08
DAL 100-98 ATL
ATL 76% on 22-29 (ATL 75.3% on the season)

12/2/08
DAL 100-98 LAC
LAC 80% on 8-10

11/28/08
DAL 107-114 LAL
LAL 93% on 14-15

11/25/08
DAL 109-106 IND
IND 82% on 14-17

11/16/08
DAL 124-114 NYK (OT)
NYK 81% on 13-16

11/14/08
DAL 100-102 ORL
ORL 73% on 27-37 (ORL is last in the league in FT% at just under 72% for the season)

11/7/08
DAL 105-108 DEN
DEN 93% on 37-40 (DEN 77% on the season)


So, yeah, make of that what you will. By my count that list includes every game we've played that was decided by 5 or fewer points or went to overtime. Of these games, only Charlotte shot below their season average. Of course, even in these close games, a free throw here or there probably didn't make a big difference in the outcome. And in a lot of these games you get what you ask for (i.e. if you send Kobe to the line in the fourth quarter then expect him to go 6-6, although Bynum's 6-7 in the game was unexpected). But I think everyone probably remembers Carmelo (and the rest of the Nuggets) killing us over and over again at the line in that Denver game. And I'd say it's also a tough break when Duncan (8-9) and the Spurs bench (10-10) shoot so well from the line.

On the flip side, I'd say we're very lucky to be 1st in the league in opp 3PT% against, but at least that is something that we have some control over.

Anyway, I realize this is kind of a long and not terribly relevant post. But in case anyone else was wondering about the FT shooting the same as I was, there it is...

[horse900703]

we used to be very good

[Dirkadirkastan]

Originally Posted by horse900703

we used to be very good

At defending the FT line?

[ghazi]

I think it's variance, just like us being #1 in the league at 3-PT %defense is variance.

[chumdawg]

I think there are only two ways to defend against FT percentage. One is to avoid sending good FT shooters to the line. The other is to tighten the rims at your home building.

[Dirkadirkastan]

Originally Posted by chumdawg

The other is to tighten the rims at your home building.

No, I don't think we need to sacrifice our own shooting.

What we really need to do is get rid of the Acme Brick signs the fans wave around because they're obviously not working. Replace them with some highly reflective material for fans to blind the opponent FT shooters with.

[KiddNPlay]

Flashlights for all fans!

[LonghornDub]

Originally Posted by Dirkadirkastan

No, I don't think we need to sacrifice our own shooting.

Fairly certain chum's remark was tongue-in-cheek.

[vRookie]

Originally Posted by ghazi

I think it's variance, just like us being #1 in the league at 3-PT %defense is variance.

How is 3pt defense a variance? You can alter the opponents 3pt FG% by not giving them open looks and defending the perimeter well unlike FT%

[Dirkadirkastan]

Originally Posted by LonghornDub

Fairly certain chum's remark was tongue-in-cheek.

Fairly certain my earnest response conforms to all league regulations.

[Caseman]

Originally Posted by LonghornDub

Fairly certain chum's remark was tongue-in-cheek.

Irroonyyyyy.

[LonghornDub]

Originally Posted by Caseman

Irroonyyyyy.

Are you suggesting that Dirka's first response was tongue-in-cheek itself? I don't think so. But, then again, I'm running on fumes. So maybe you're right.

[dude1394]

Originally Posted by Dirkadirkastan

No, I don't think we need to sacrifice our own shooting.

What we really need to do is get rid of the Acme Brick signs the fans wave around because they're obviously not working. Replace them with some highly reflective material for fans to blind the opponent FT shooters with.

I've actually noticed that the end-zone guys have been really performing poorly this year. They badly need to step it up.

[thurst0509]

Glad I'm not the only one who's felt that way. No one seems to yell when opponents are at the freethrow line unless it's late in the 4th in a close game. And often the end-zone team is slow at passing out the brick signs and generally poor at getting the crowd amped up.

I try to do my best in the upper bowl. There are two old fart couples that sit in front of us every game and give us dirty looks when we yell and bang our clappers. They actually had the audacity to complain about another couple who was sitting near us one night because I guess the woman was banging her clapper too loud! The usher asked the "loud" couple if they'd be ok moving to a different seat... WTF people it's not a library!

Luckily they haven't said anything to me or complained to the usher about me. If they ever do, I swear I will bang my clappers RIGHT in their ear as loud as I can for the rest of the season...

[Kidd Karma]

Difference is Kidd and Stackhouse. More Kidd bricks and less Stack makes.

[SeriousSummer]

It's too early to make a judgment about the Mavs' free throw defense. The Mavs need at least until the All-Star break to have time to get comfortable with Carlisle's new schemes.

[EricaLubarsky]

I think a lot of people missed the point of this thread. Its not about the Mavs FT shooting (which is at a darn-fine 7th in the league 79.1%)

The point is our FT "defense" is 2nd worst in the league.

While it is impossible to guard the FT line, there are some interesting stories involved
1) We are 4th best in the league in fewest fouls
2) We are, however middle of the pack in number of opponent FTs
3) this says to me that a very high % of our fouls are shooting fouls, which says to me that we are getting beat on defense more than we should

So...my hypothesis is this: Mavs have some bad luck (OKC averages 76.1% on the season!), combined with an occasionally spotty defense that loses players (including shooters), and we aren't fouling hard enough when we do foul. Of course Opp FT% is one of the least interesting stats out there, but thats all I can gather from it.

[DirkFTW]

The solution is obvious: we need a speedo guy.

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by DirkFTW

The solution is obvious: we need a speedo guy.

It's nice to have someone on this board whose posts are equally as worthless as mine!

[EricaLubarsky]

you wish your posts were that brilliant, underdog!