LeBron's free-throw technique letting him down
MIAMI — You know the story. A player misses key free
throws in a game and soon goes to a gym and shoots hundreds until midnight.
But that wasn't what LeBron James did after an adventurous fourth quarter of
foul shooting Tuesday night. It was business as usual for the Miami forward
Wednesday.
"No extra work in there," James said on the Heat practice court the
day after he missed his final three attempts, including two in the final
minute, of a 78-75 loss to Indiana in Game 2 of an East semifinal. "It's
repetition. I've got enough work in over the years and over the days and
throughout the summers that I know I just got to go up there and make them.
“Coming in here and shooting with nobody in here really is
not going to help matters when you get in that position."
Actually, there was something James could have done had he put in extra work.
At least that's the word from Rick Barry, a 90-percent free-throw shooter in
the NBA from 1965-67 and 1972-80.
You're probably thinking, "Oh, no, he's going to recommend granny
style." The Hall of Famer was famous for his underhanded method.
Barry believes James, a 74.6 percent career free-throw shooter, is a good
enough marksman that he easily could shoot over 80 percent using a traditional
style if some adjustments are made. While Barry said most of those adjustments
should be made during the offseason, he said there's one thing James could do
now in an empty gym.
"The thing he could do right now is just focus on the target a little
more," Barry said.
FOX Sports Florida asked Barry, a former University of Miami star, to critique
James' foul shooting. So Barry, on Wednesday at his Colorado Springs home,
watched a tape of Tuesday's game, paying close attention to what James did at
the line. Barry slowed down the tape to look at James' mechanics.
James started out well against the Pacers, shooting 4-of-5 in the first three
quarters. But he was just 4-of-8 in the fourth quarter (to finish 8-of-13),
including two misses with 54.3 seconds left and the Heat down 76-75.
"With what he's doing now, there is no way in the world he is going to be
a great consistent shooter," Barry said. "He has a lot of motion in
his shot, and he doesn't look at the basket enough. ... They had some close ups
(on the TNT broadcast) and he didn't even start looking at the basket until he
started doing the motion."
Barry said James usually had a better follow-through when he made free throws
as opposed to when he missed. He said James "starts out way low" and
has so much motion when shooting it's difficult for him to maintain
consistency. He needs a more compact technique.
"He bends over, then he moves all the way up. He's moving his arms up. He
takes the ball way back a little bit behind his head before he shoots the
ball," Barry said. "That's a lot of stuff to have to deal with, and
he still has his elbow out just a little bit.
“They showed him from behind the basket, and you could see
his elbow out. When he finishes the shot he goes across the path of the basket.
If he's lets (the ball) go at the right time, that's awesome. If not, he's
going to be left or right."
Fans, of course, are not getting this technical around the office water cooler,
with some saying James simply choked under pressure. Regardless, there has been
plenty of discussion about James' crummy late free-throw shooting since it hurt
the Heat in a loss that tied the series 1-1.
James’ missed free throws overshadowed his impressive night. He totaled 28
points, nine rebounds, five assists and set a Heat playoff record with six
steals. But he fizzled at the line at the worst possible time.
"That's the nature of the beast," Miami guard Dwyane Wade said when
asked if it's fair James has been getting so much heat about his missed free
throws despite his strong all-around game. "It's called opinions. Everyone
has one. Everyone has a voice. Everyone has a mouth. They use it.
“We don't worry about that inside of here. No one is in here
playing this playoff series with us. ... I'm sure one day when we get away from
this game, we'll be talking (like fans)."
James was asked about the criticism, and he claimed he didn't know about it.
Maybe he really didn't.
The last time James had a tweet @kingjames was April 27, the day before the
playoffs began. Maybe he's on a media blackout during the postseason.
"I don't even know what people are talking about," James said
Wednesday when asked about criticism of the missed free throws. "I don't
read too much articles. I don't watch too much TV and sports writers. I don't
get involved in that. I play my game."
It sounds then as if James probably won't read this article. But just in case
he does, Barry still would like to offer some free-throw advice. Barry said he
would be glad one day to offer it personally to James if he had the
opportunity.
James shot 77.1 percent during the regular season, the second-best effort of
his nine-year career, and is at 77.5 in these playoffs. Barry called that
"respectable," but believes a player of James' caliber should be
better.
"To be a good foul shooter, you've got to shoot 80 percent," said
Barry, whose 90.0 figure was the best in NBA history when he retired, but now
is third behind retired Mark Price (90.39) and active Steve Nash (90.35).
"If you're not shooting 80 percent, I don't know how you can live with
yourself."
Overall, James seems to be managing, although he sure would like a championship
ring. If James were to follow some of Barry's advice, perhaps it couldn't hurt
in that quest.
"He doesn't need a drastic overhaul, he just needs to refine what he's
doing," Barry said. "One of the problems (after he bends his knees to
shoot is his) knees come up first, his body straightens out and then he shoots
it all with his arms. It's all with the arms. He should shoot the ball with his
arms and legs going simultaneously."
Barry ruled out fatigue as a reason for James' late misses Tuesday, saying the
shots would have been short rather than long had that been the case. James, who
played 43 minutes in Game 2, including the entire second half, didn't use
fatigue as an excuse.
But James did say Wednesday he "would love to get a minute here or two
minutes there, especially in the second half just so I can finish strong in the
fourth."
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra wanted to give James a
fourth-quarter breather in Game 2, but said he couldn't afford to since the
Heat fell behind by nine entering the quarter.
James, 27, wouldn't get any sympathy anyhow from Barry when it comes to getting
rest. When Barry was 27, he led the ABA in 1971-72 with an average of 45.2
minutes per regular-season game and 47.8 minutes per playoff game for the New
York Nets.
During his career, Barry did far more than just shoot free throws. Barry, like
James a versatile small forward, won the NBA scoring title in 1966-67,
averaging 35.6 points for the Warriors. He also averaged as many as 10.6
rebounds and 6.2 assists in an NBA season.
So consider Barry well qualified to critique other parts of James' game. And
he's glad to do that.
"He's such a beast and he has so much talent and so much ability,"
Barry said. "But as good as he is, he should be way better. ... Little
things he could refine such as how to beat a guy using his first dribble and
his first step as far as not having to do it off the dribble all the time.
“It kills me to watch him and know how good this guy could
be. He's already stupid good. As good as he, if he learned these little
refinements, they might have to outlaw him."
Barry said corrections to his elbow and overall form also would help James'
outside shot. Barry believes if James were a better free-throw shooter he would
be even more aggressive because he would want to get fouled and go to the line
as much as possible.
"What I'm saying is constructive criticism," Barry said. "I want
to see LeBron James as good as he can be because that would be a joy to watch. I
think he's not at his full potential right now, which breaks my heart."
If James wants to make Barry feel better, there's apparently one thing he can
do right now. Go to an empty gym and shoot free throws while keeping his eyes
on the target.
Chris Tomasson can be reached at christomasson@hotmail.com
or on Twitter @christomasson