Dwight's Free Throw Shooting

[imonfire99]

Dwight's free throw shooting in the Olympics has been atrocious. Yesterday he was 0-6, and the 1st two games he was 0-2 and 0-1, the next two games were average at 3-5 and 3-4. But 6-16 is simply unacceptable, the Magic really need to hire a permanent shooting coach bc when Dwight works with one, his FT shooting at the beginning of the year is great, and then tails off. He should really be working on that. He'll have more time next summer though.

[trebone]

if he could average 70-75% he would average another 5 pts a game at least, they have to see this as a problem. but shaq never got any better so maybe dwight wont either. only time will tell.

[theTHIEF]

I don't believe Dwight will ever average a consistent FT shot over 72%...his FT's shooting is plain terrible...he has worked on it for 4 years now, 2 years seriously with shooting coaches and little improvement when in games...if you cant get a handle on it now, you never will...I believe it to be mental and it's just something we will have to endure with him...

[EasternMagic]

just get more and ones

[drsd]

if he could average 70-75% he would average another 5 pts a game at least, they have to see this as a problem. but shaq never got any better so maybe dwight wont either. only time will tell.

Howard was 59% at 11 attempts a game last year. At 70%, Howard would increase his scoring by 2 ppg.

[Hoopslife]

I just don't understand how he went from 67% his rookie year to 59% the next 3 years..

[theTHIEF]

I just don't understand how he went from 67% his rookie year to 59% the next 3 years..

the amount of trips to the line has more than doubled since his rookie season and he has added some 30lbs of muscle since that time...

[lovehoops01]

In one of the Team USA exhibition games, Fran Fraschilla had an interesting comment about Dwight's free throws that certainly could explain all of his shooting woes, not just at the free-throw line.

He said several times during that game that Dwight puts his guide hand on the front of the ball and that knocks his shot off its target. They have said that the ball they have been using is a little smaller than an NBA ball, and with the size of his hands, I don't know if that is affecting him. But I thought it was an interesting observation. You've got to think that someone would have noticed that before, though.

It's kind of inexplicable with Dwight. With Shaq, you can understand. His shot just looks terrible. But Dwight's looks OK. He just always seems to short-arm it or shoot too hard.

[Magic.City.23.]

IMO It's all mental with dwight. His form looks great, he just needs more focus and better concentration. Like Fraschilla was sayin tho, his mechanics are probably inconsistent.

[theTHIEF]

in the gym, the kid might as well be a 95% FT shooter, looks better than me shooting from the stripe at most times...but it doesn't translate into the game...why do you think this is? it's not his form that is changing so drastically, it's something else...he's weak in the attic if you know what im saying...

[lovehoops01]

in the gym, the kid might as well be a 95% FT shooter, looks better than me shooting from the stripe at most times...but it doesn't translate into the game...why do you think this is? it's not his form that is changing so drastically, it's something else...he's weak in the attic if you know what im saying...

So, Thief, are you saying that he can't be relied on to be the franchise player then? That would seem to be a monstrous concern.

[theTHIEF]

Dwight is our franchise at the moment and there is no way around this, which is fine by me, i LOVE the kid...However I would say that we aren't out of the woods with him yet...we're at like the 65% marker...if he continues, we'll be there for sure no problem, but at any time he could slip and we could be out big time...Dwight is just that delicate at this stage...there are flashes of utter dominance and poise, and then there are moments where you question him for a split second...I think his mentality and poise are much greater concerns than his FT shooting. FT shooting is something that adds to his overall game on the court which believe it or not is relatively a small part of the game, the other two are much more powerful, and should be taking more seriously...

The moment he is able to step into the shoes of an actual leader and keep himself calm, cool and collected the balance of power will literally shift and he will control the lion share of the dominance in the NBA...

[DMannOC]

You guys are over reacting as there is an easy fix

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6c7jNIFuAE&feature=related

[mhectorgato]

Dwight is our franchise at the moment and there is no way around this, which is fine by me, i LOVE the kid...However I would say that we aren't out of the woods with him yet...we're at like the 65% marker...if he continues, we'll be there for sure no problem, but at any time he could slip and we could be out big time...Dwight is just that delicate at this stage...there are flashes of utter dominance and poise, and then there are moments where you question him for a split second...I think his mentality and poise are much greater concerns than his FT shooting. FT shooting is something that adds to his overall game on the court which believe it or not is relatively a small part of the game, the other two are much more powerful, and should be taking more seriously...

The moment he is able to step into the shoes of an actual leader and keep himself calm, cool and collected the balance of power will literally shift and he will control the lion share of the dominance in the NBA...

Got to remember his age and that he didn't get any college grooming.

I'm more worried how he looses his poise and effectively takes himself out of games. Many times it's foul calls/non-calls. Though I can understand to some extent with him getting hacked and pushed around ...

[craig01]

In one of the Team USA exhibition games, Fran Fraschilla had an interesting comment about Dwight's free throws that certainly could explain all of his shooting woes, not just at the free-throw line.

He said several times during that game that Dwight puts his guide hand on the front of the ball and that knocks his shot off its target. They have said that the ball they have been using is a little smaller than an NBA ball, and with the size of his hands, I don't know if that is affecting him. But I thought it was an interesting observation. You've got to think that someone would have noticed that before, though.

It's kind of inexplicable with Dwight. With Shaq, you can understand. His shot just looks terrible. But Dwight's looks OK. He just always seems to short-arm it or shoot too hard.

I've been saying that for years.

The fix for that is to learn to shoot with the guide hand starting underneath the ball forming a platform. The guide hand then rotates up the ball as the shooting motion begins allowing for a perfect release. He would no longer miss directionally if he did this, and would only have to focus on short/long.

Too strong a guide hand can affect both arc(flat release) and direction. The hand MUST get out of the way.

[theTHIEF]

age is a factor to an extent...to your points I counter with excellent parents and support unit surrounding him plus 4 years of NBA should about cover any college grooming. At this stage, Dwight is a veteran NBA player, it's time to mature, real quick...

[lovehoops01]

I understood that you meant his mentality is the problem. I do understand that the fact he came straight from high school and is only 22 might be part of it. But this will be his fifth season in the league so the right mentality should be starting to come around his way.

I have seen more than one person say, "if he keeps working as hard as he has." Is he starting to slack?

What exactly do you mean, "It's that delicate with him now?'' Is he doing something he shouldn't be or not doing something he should be?

And, Mann, that Shaq video....what is that -- 10 years old?

[DMannOC]

Something like that... too bad he lost the taco bell sponsorship or he would have gotten his FT average would have been around 97-98% by now

[mhectorgato]

age is a factor to an extent...to your points I counter with excellent parents and support unit surrounding him plus 4 years of NBA should about cover any college grooming. At this stage, Dwight is a veteran NBA player, it's time to mature, real quick...

I agree.

[TNMagicFan]

Dwight needs to forget the conventional foul shot and use a bank shot . If he goes a little hard , it goes in .If he goes a little short , it still goes in . The bank shot allows room for a little error