Paul's Free Throw Feet
by Jeff Clark on Mar 31, 2008 8:14 AM EDT
in Boston Celtics News & Links
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Nice observation here by Red's Army:
Paul is a career 79.5% free throw shooter. This year: 84.6% And there’s a simple reason why.
Watch his feet.
In years past, Paul went to the line… put his left foot slightly back from the line… bent a little at the knees… and shot. This year, he’s got that left foot way back. He’s also crouching a bit more. But why?
The past few years, Paul had gotten into a bad habit of shooting his free throw and fading away from the line. By the time the ball hit the rim, he was practically at the top of the key. That’s a sign of bad balance… and its enough to make the shot bounce out, rather than bounce in.
By putting that left foot back and bending more, he changes his center of gravity and maintains his balance throughout the shot… preventing himself from fading away. Just look a the second set of photos. In the 2006 photo, when he brings the ball up to shoot… his weight is over his heels… almost forced him to fade backwards when he shot. Now… his weight is forward… over his knee.
Now, a shot that grazes the front of the rim and goes in… where it used to hit the front of the rim, bounce up, and sometimes out.
Its that simple. Shifting that left foot back and bending the knees… is good for an extra 5% of Paul Pierce’s free throws going in.
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This is a good catch.
My questions are twofold:
What percentage of the improvement is attributable to Pierce wanting to do better, ie., trying harder?
What percentage is due to him thinking about his new form, and thus taking his mind off other things that can distract him?
One key to free throw shooting is, obviously, good form.
But there are other keys, too.
Magic improved his free throw shooting simply because he refused to be one-upped by bird.
Then you have Karl Malone, who improved his free throw shooting by following the same routine every time he stood at the line, so he was thinking more about the routine than hooking left or hooking right, to use a golf analogy.
Free throw shooting is part form and part mental.
by Woodstock Libertarian on Mar 31, 2008 9:29 AM EDT reply actions
good article, I had also noticed that Paul is taking an extra second or so with each free throw this year. In past seasons, Paul seemingly had bounce / bounce / shoot pattern to his free throws, whereas this year he seems to be going bounce / bounce / pause / shoot. In any case, can’t argue with the results.
by PaulBonner on Mar 31, 2008 9:30 AM EDT reply actions
The best part of the two picks is Raef lining up across from Scal in the old pick and KG lining up across from Perk in the other.
I guess we traded in our Ford for a Beamer!!!
by Woodstock Libertarian on Mar 31, 2008 9:31 AM EDT reply actions
Excellent analysis. That is a great couple of shots to demonstrate the change. One thing that I have always thought and woodstock said as well above is that PP has been doing a better job also concentrating on the free throw. I think this may have helped him. Whatever the reason it sure is nice to count on them both going in when he steps to the line. We will have a couple games in the playoffs that will likely result in our win from this.
nice photo observation.
1.raef and scal
2.perk and KG
i love pierce. he’s FT shooting form seems awkward. atleast he became more unique in the FT line.
i’m praying and hoping that he can sink a FT shot during close Playoff game. 2006 or even 2002 conference finals was part of the past. move on Pierce!! ;)
I injured my leg and couldn’t bend my knees properly using my normal FT technique (similar to fig 1), so I had to change it slightly (somewhat similar to fig 2) and my FT% went up. Not only that, when I returned to my usual technique as the leg improved, the % stayed high because I was now more focused on distributing the weight evenly.
You guys didn’t do your homework!
See today’s link from Worcester Telegram “Mom critical of Pierce”
Mom comes through again!
by LonelyTXCelt on Mar 31, 2008 2:16 PM EDT reply actions
The deep knee bend probably doesn’t do a whole lot. However the foot back thing is a big deal because it makes the tripod focus point more correct (listen to any shooting coach). You will hear announcers talk about “stepping into the shot”. One of the advantages besides momentum is the release point. When the release point is off even a half inch to the left, bad things happen (I know because it is my most common mistake) to percentages. If you release the ball just left of your right eye (if you are right handed), your elbow is less likely to flare (one of the reasons that Antoine Walker is so inconsistent).
I play with a great shooter and it amazing to see how consistent his release point is. The thing that is shocking to me is that the Celtics don’t seem to have a full-time shooting coach. Breaking down the form via videotype would seem to be a must at the professional level.
sigh Can someone please send this picture to Toine. (not like he’ll change his ways but perhaps he can make himself less-than-useless should he(and he most likely will) find himself on another team next year? All that idiot has to do is simply do what Paul is doing. It’s that simple.
Shimmy-shaking doofus….
Off topic: I just want to point out that Tommy Heinson needs our votes over at the “Ball Don’t Lie” Bedlam tournament. http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/BDL-Bedlam-Rd-2-Tommy-Points-vs-Where-Ama?urn=nba,74302
by jpotts77 on Mar 31, 2008 4:35 PM EDT reply actions
I don’t think that has as much to do with the percentage as the fact that Paul doesn’t feel like he has to do everything. He looked exhausted a lot more often in the past than he has this year. Not conducive to good mechanics.
He’s also not playing as many minutes and appears to be in the best shape he’s been in in years. That and the attitude that comes with winning probably has as much to do with his success as anything else.
by lobstermobster on Mar 31, 2008 4:46 PM EDT reply actions
I remember last time he was in the playoffs his free throw percentage was almost wholly dependent on whether or not he took a deep breath before shooting.
by Robb @ CelticsBlog on Mar 31, 2008 8:59 PM EDT reply actions
Who had this 4 days ahead of the news?
"Paul Pierce has quietly upped his foul shooting this season, including crunch time. He is 3rd on the team at 83% in those moments. He seems more focused, and his form even seems more of a crouch this season. He had a recent streak of foul shooting in the low 90s. He once said this season, that he wasn’t sure people noticed that he had improved in this category. Paul, they will now know.’
In ‘Who is the Clutchest Celtic?’ by some guy named Halzack.
What hath I wrought? (besides bad english)
(Have you no shame? – Uhmmmm….none. Well maybe a little.)
T
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