In the NBA Playoffs, every point matters. A single point could be the difference between a team hoisting the Larry O'Brien Trophy at the end of the season and making vacations plans because they've been eliminated from the playoffs. Free Throws have become a crucial part in the game with the increase in the hack-a-whoever strategy teams have been using. We saw the negative effect free throws had earlier in the playoffs, as Thunder guard Andre Roberson arguably cost his team at least two games against the Rockets due to bad free throw shooting.
LeBron James hasn't been the best free throw shooter, but he has been reliable when needed.
This year he has struggled, and he is doing everything he can to help his free throws get better, like changing his shot technique over and over again.
To the extreme
LeBron isn't the worst free throw shooter but he is certainly not the best. He averages an even 74 percent from the charity stripe for his career. That's not bad for a player like James, but this past regular season he shot the worst free throw percentage of his career. He shot an abysmal 67 percent from the line. The last time James shot under 70 percent from the Free Throw Line was in the 2006-07 season where he shot 69 percent. James has been frustrated by his inability to convert on free throw opportunities, slapping the ball away from himself when he missed a critical free throw against the Hornets.
LeBron James has recognized his problem at the free throw line and has exerted all options to fix it, but James might've taken it to the extreme. James has tried 18 different variations of his free throw technique throughout the season and into the playoffs. His techniques have ranged from his normal routine to try to emulate teammate Kyle Korver's shot (he shoots 93 percent).
In the month of March when James shot an atrocious 62 percent from the charity stripe, he changed his variations every game. Many people who have watched LeBron might not have noticed the subtle changes, but when you go over the eighteen ways he's shot it, you see the differences. LeBron has done all these changes, but still hasn't found an answer to his free throw woes.
Costly Shots
So far, James' poor foul line shooting hasn't cost them any games yet, but will it finally catch up with him? James has made up for his bad free throw shooting for his excellence all over the court, as he is averaging 35 points per game in the playoffs. If James and the Cavs reach the finals (which is expected) and face either the Warriors or Spurs (probably the Warriors), will those teams make James beat them at the line? Both teams have to see that James has had a terrible year at the free throw line and they might hack him every time he drives the lane for a layup to make him shoot free throws. This might end up costing the Cavs down the stretch because if he continues to struggle, they could fall into a hole against the Spurs or Warriors.
James might need to consult somebody to help fix his free throws, as it might end up costing him a championship.
LeBron James can hopefully find a permanent solution for his bad shooting from the foul line. This doesn't take away from his dominance he is having on the court, as he can't be guarded. Sometimes if you let a problem fester for too long it will cost you and James' free throw problems have festered for quite some time. James is determined to fix his shot, will free throw variation number 19 be the one that works the best? You can see if James tweaked his technique in game two of the Eastern Conference Finals at 8:30 p.m EST on TNT.
