How true is the statement “Shaq made them when it mattered” ?

[Loaded_Hollows]

We hear this get parroted a lot about shaq’s free throws but how true is it? Genuinely asking. And what qualifies as “when it mattered”? 4th quarters in playoff games? The last 3 minutes in any game? Closeout games in finals series?

Do you recollect this statement to be true? Maybe someone who isn’t as lazy as me can go digging for some numbers. But if not, chime in with your memories. Did it “feel” like that was the case?

[Doctor MJ]

We hear this get parroted a lot about shaq’s free throws but how true is it? Genuinely asking. And what qualifies as “when it mattered”? 4th quarters in playoff games? The last 3 minutes in any game? Closeout games in finals series?

Do you recollect this statement to be true? Maybe someone who isn’t as lazy as me can go digging for some numbers. But if not, chime in with your memories. Did it “feel” like that was the case?

What was always said about Shaq's free throws was that he shot them much better in practice. This is a common issue for bad in-game shooters, so it's not just Shaq, but it does contradict the idea that Shaq did better under pressure. He did not.

However, something that was generally accepted - I don't have data for this though - was that when a guy goes to the line repeatedly he tends to do better. This is of course part of why it makes sense that guys shoot FTs better in practice - they can practice as many in a row as they want, and so if they get into a groove, they'll perform better.

[Eric Millegan]

In the 2000 WCF, he shot 7/12 in Game 5 which they lost, 3/10 in Game 6 which they lost, and 8/12 (not great) in Game 7 which they won. I do believe he hit two FTs in a row in the 4th quarter of Game 7 though. He hit 13/17 in Game 6 vs Kings and 11/15 in Game 7 vs Kings. They won both. So I'd say there is some truth to it. He didn't have a horrible showing in the big games.

[bisme37]

All of them matter. Free throws in the 1st quarter are worth as many points as they are in the 4th quarter. And they all go toward your final score and your chance of winning the game.

[The Master]

According to clutch stats from nba.com (last 5 minutes, 5 pts margin), Shaq since '96 made 48.5% FTs in clutch (52.1% in general).

(in regular season)

[Eric Millegan]

According to clutch stats from nba.com (last 5 minutes, 5 pts margin), Shaq since '96 made 48.5% FTs in clutch (52.1% in general).

(in regular season)

when they matter is playoffs
who cares about rs?

[The Master]

when they matter is playoffs
who cares about rs?

He was 52% in the playoffs in clutch from FT line.

[Big J]

when they matter is playoffs
who cares about rs?

He was 52% in the playoffs in clutch from FT line.

"in clutch" isn't a very telling stat. A swing game in the finals or conference finals matter more than a close game in the first round when you are already up 2 games to none. You have to watch the games to know these things. I remember him hitting them when it mattered.

[The Master]

A swing game in the finals or conference finals matter more than a close game in the first round when you are already up 2 games to none. You have to watch the games to know these things. I remember him hitting them when it mattered.

He was 51%FT shooter in elimination games and 48%FT shooter in closeout games.

Suprisingly, with a big enough sample size 50% FT shooter looks like a 50% FT shooter regardless of criteria.

[KrAzY3]

A swing game in the finals or conference finals matter more than a close game in the first round when you are already up 2 games to none. You have to watch the games to know these things. I remember him hitting them when it mattered.

He was 51%FT shooter in elimination games and 48%FT shooter in closeout games.

Suprisingly, with a big enough sample size 50% FT shooter looks like a 50% FT shooter regardless of criteria.

I'm impressed with your patience in dealing with people that want to pretend Shaq didn't universally suck as a free throw shooter.

[Harry Garris]

It's not true at all.

Shaq shot better from the free throw line in the regular season than he did in the playoffs. Also as others have brought up his playoff clutch time free throw percentage was slightly better than his overall playoff average... buuuuuuut it was still worse than his regular season average.

Once the playoffs started and the games "mattered" Shaq became a worse free throw shooter. There's no way around it.

[Big J]

A swing game in the finals or conference finals matter more than a close game in the first round when you are already up 2 games to none. You have to watch the games to know these things. I remember him hitting them when it mattered.

He was 51%FT shooter in elimination games and 48%FT shooter in closeout games.

Suprisingly, with a big enough sample size 50% FT shooter looks like a 50% FT shooter regardless of criteria.

Closeout games when they were up 2-0 in the first round are meaningless. Of course he aint gonna care about making those.

[Egg Nog]

It would matter to any high-level player to be considered potentially #1 all-time rather than perhaps top 10.

Shaq would easily be in the running for GOAT if he had been able to convert...say...75% of his free throws.

Therefore, Shaq did not hit his free throws when it mattered.

[picc]

Shaq meant crunch time of close games specifically, I believe.

I don't know if he actually did make more in crunch time, but I'm pretty sure he wasn't talking about playoff games in general.

[og15]

We hear this get parroted a lot about shaq’s free throws but how true is it? Genuinely asking. And what qualifies as “when it mattered”? 4th quarters in playoff games? The last 3 minutes in any game? Closeout games in finals series?

Do you recollect this statement to be true? Maybe someone who isn’t as lazy as me can go digging for some numbers. But if not, chime in with your memories. Did it “feel” like that was the case?

What was always said about Shaq's free throws was that he shot them much better in practice. This is a common issue for bad in-game shooters, so it's not just Shaq, but it does contradict the idea that Shaq did better under pressure. He did not.

However, something that was generally accepted - I don't have data for this though - was that when a guy goes to the line repeatedly he tends to do better. This is of course part of why it makes sense that guys shoot FTs better in practice - they can practice as many in a row as they want, and so if they get into a groove, they'll perform better.

In practice you get to correct your form as you go. I tend to believe it is better to track practice FT's based on do drills, pause shoot 2-5 FT's, do drills, pause and shoot. That's how I do it. Standing in one spot shooting 20 FT's is not particularly the most accurate representation of what will happen.

Just like I don't believe in practicing and tracking standing still casual shooting, but shots taking at game speed mimicking game situations.

[og15]

It could be the case, and of course better might mean 60-65% vs 50%, which is still better.

For him, that would seem to only suggest that he's not focused at other times?

[Cavsfansince84]

It would matter to any high-level player to be considered potentially #1 all-time rather than perhaps top 10.

Shaq would easily be in the running for GOAT if he had been able to convert...say...75% of his free throws.

Therefore, Shaq did not hit his free throws when it mattered.

Even being a 67% ft shooter in his prime years changes things quite a bit. Suddenly most of his metrics would go from 'up there with MJ and LeBron' to '#1 almost across the board'. Plus maybe it also means another ring. That's harder to figure out but it might be enough.

[whitehops]

wasn't that a direct quote from him? in which case just forget it because he spewed nonsense just to make a headline throughout his entire career.

[theforumblue]

it's just something shaq says because it's not like people gonna start telling him percentages and whatnot.

sometimes in 4th qtrs he'll start hitting some because he went to the line so much due to the hack-a-shaq. he's probably remembering that if anything.

[Optms]

I vividly remember him being better in tight games with under 1 minute. Could be wrong.