read in the last few days news about two great players, José Manuel Calderón and Shaquille O'Neal, who, for reasons diametrically opposed, have become stars of today with the same item of the game in common: free throw.
one hand, the spate of free throws in a row by Calderón has now reached up to 69 pitches without failure. In this season, are 66 releases already converted, which must be added the last 3 who scored at the end of the 'regular season' of the previous season. Since the NBA does not count free throws made in playoff, the May 5 attempts Calderon scored in the brief incursion by the Raptors in the fight for the title in the 2007/08 season are excluded from the race for the record. Thus, touching the mark of 74 free throws he signed Steve Nash seasons ago, Calderon has proved infallible in one aspect of the game that he signed a few years ago simply incorrect results.
now examine the case of O'Neal, arguably the most decisive player in the NBA over many seasons. The case of the Suns' power forward is news because is on the verge of becoming the second player in NBA history to reach the 5000 faults from the line, surpassed only by Wilt Chamberlain, who left the bar very high (or low) with 5.085 missed shots. Dubious honor for two of the reels players in basketball history. It is true that comparisons are odious, but now, with Shaquille, they acquire an undeniable tinge tragicomic, as reflected recently over a week Kerry Freyn reporter from Boston in an article published by the newspaper 'Marca'. And is that if Larry Bird returned to the court, may miss their free throws early 3000 and have a better percentage 'Shaq' ... What's more, Steve Nash, his teammate, would need 200 years and 17000 matches to reach the 5000 failure to keep the legendary always effectively than he has shown over the years.
The truth is that Calderon and O'Neal are totally different players in almost every facet of the game (although we've ever seen O'neal up the ball or even leave his defender with a true 'crossover' of 'gamer'), as is also true that the fact that both match in the newspapers for this reason it remains a mere anecdote. However, information is also useful to assess the psychological impact resulting in taking a free kick in some basketball players.
Talking about this with José Manuel Beira, sublime shooter as an active player, and currently works as a psychologist advising athletes from multiple disciplines, he explained that most players can combine to significantly improve their shooting training technical guidelines on the mental level rather simple. The former gold medalist in Los Angeles in 1984 also told me that, undoubtedly, some players are born with a special talent to throw to the basket, but nevertheless, almost anyone can substantially improve the percentage applying corrections to shooting mechanics and creating a routine pre-launch. Nevertheless, the former Real Madrid player also told me to have met some really difficult case, in which the improvement was negligible after many hours of work.
is not the case of 'Calde', which we know that, in recent years has worked conscientiously, aided by his father to correct his mechanics and do not open both the elbow of his right arm to arm the throw, not only from the line of 4.60 but in general, which, while not drawing too much attention, see note to throw with a more refined style. The statistics are there and do not lie. Has improved in virtually all sections of the shot, just enough to look at his free throw percentage and three points in his four seasons in the NBA to see a clear improvement from year to year.
And as for 'Shaq', I know the time will be spent on improving his shot, although I suppose a player who is so often the line is more concerned that any increase their percentage. Perhaps his huge hands are a burden too heavy for him, (have they tried to throw a basket ball handball?, Precision when scoring suffers noticeably much smaller the ball), there may not be able to correct your time shooting mechanics, or perhaps simply be a basket case that has already been made as impossible.
In any case, despite the news of conflicting results on the same aspect of the game, 'Shaq' and 'Calde' are two outstanding players who are the delight of fans night after night in the NBA.
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