Grades v. Cavs 01/04

[Kingster]

Justin Williams is too much of a liability at the end of games because of his atrocious free throw shooting - maybe the worst in the NBA - currently at around 30%. Yes he's an excellent rebounder, good weak side shot blocker, and garbage man around the hoop. Still, he leaves his feet and gets in trouble on the defensive end way to much. He also sets soft picks for his athletic mobility and size. His "great effort" can only get you so far in the NBA and unless Williams WORKS A HELLUVA LOT HARDER to improve he will always be at the end of the bench and struggling to just stay in this league.

When Karl Malone came into the NBA he too was horrible from the line, clanging 48% his first year and 59% his second season. By third year he was up to a respectable 70% and averaged around 75% for the rest of his long NBA career, getting up to 80% a couple of seasons. How did it happen? Malone shot hundreds and hundreds of FT's before practice, after practice, on off days, at his house, every idle minute in an attempt to get better - and it succeeded! Justin Williams has not been nearly as dedicated to that kind of hard work necessary for him to get much better than he is.

I totally agree. I cannot for the life of me understand how an NBA player can shoot 30% from the line. When you look at his free throw motion it's hard to even believe that a coach has worked with him 5 minutes on his form. Either that, or he's forgetting absolutely everything when he goes up to the line. If this is the best the coaches can do with JW on his free throws, then they should bring in Barry to teach him the underhanded method. It's hard to watch a guy like Williams who has the talent blow it because he can't make free throws. And right now, he's blowing it BIG TIME.

 

[Bricklayer]

It's hard to watch a guy like Williams who has the talent blow it because he can't make free throws. And right now, he's blowing it BIG TIME.

I am rather hoping there was supposed to be a missing somewhere in the above.


Otherwise...

What in the heck are you talking about? I mean..seriously.

 

[kupman]

I just don't understand the Justin situation at all. Sure, he lacks court awareness and can't shoot FTs. But who's the other option? Oh yeah, Kenny Thomas, the Basketball Genius.

I think I know what is going on here. GP knows how good JW's game is. However, he has told Theus to keep him on the bench most of the time in favor of Mikki and K-9. He is giving these instructions because he is trying to tank this team this year in hopes of getting a better draft position. It is part of GP's rebuild plan. The only time Theus is allowed to put JW on the floor is when he suspects that he might have to make some critical free throws.

GP is a genius.

 

[fnordius]

I am rather hoping there was supposed to be a missing somewhere in the above.


Otherwise...

What in the heck are you talking about? I mean..seriously.

Justin shot 80% last night, the rest of the team shot 53%. Had they all shot 80%, we would have scored an additional 30+ points. Had they all scored at the same per-minute rate as Justin, we would have made another 67 points. Had they all rebounded at the same rate as Justin, we would have gotten an additional 109 rebounds. The rest of the team is blowing it BIG TIME.

 

[Warhawk]

Justin shot 80% last night, the rest of the team shot 53%. Had they all shot 80%, we would have scored an additional 30+ points. Had they all scored at the same per-minute rate as Justin, we would have made another 67 points. Had they all rebounded at the same rate as Justin, we would have gotten an additional 109 rebounds. The rest of the team is blowing it BIG TIME.

Uh, if they were shooting at 80%, where are all the rebounds going to come from?

 

[VF21]

4 missed free throws cost us the game.

No. IMHO it was the 22 turnovers that cost the Kings the game. You cannot expect to win a game when you simply try that hard to give it away.

VALUE THE BLEEPING BALL!!!

 

[fnordius]

No. IMHO it was the 22 turnovers that cost the Kings the game. You cannot expect to win a game when you simply try that hard to give it away.

VALUE THE BLEEPING BALL!!!

Thanks for reminding me...

"If the rest of the team had turned the ball over at the same rate as Justin, we would have had 21 less turnovers."

There, fixed.