Is It Time to Start Worrying about Jaylen's Free Throw Shooting?

[hodgy03038]

I have been worried about it since the beginning of the season. He needs to practice free throws.

[CelticD]

I just feel like he doesn't practice them. I wonder how many players in the league shoot in the high 30's low 40's but are sub 70% free throw shooters.

He's had these issues since he was in high school. That's very strange.

[Atzar]

Worried about them long-term?  Eh, not really.  He has a good shooting stroke otherwise (39% on the year from three, 36% for his career).  Past that, free throw shooting is mostly a matter of repetitions.  I think he needs to put in the work, but I don't see any reason that he can't become a respectable free throw shooter in time.

Worried about them this year?  Absolutely.  We may see a small amount of positive regression as the season plays out (or not - no guarantee on that), but he probably won't be able to actually fix this until the offseason.  So we're going to see him leave points out there for the next several months.

[showtime]

 Yeah I'm worried about it, he's supposed to be a smart guy, heneeds to figure out how to hit a free throw!!

[Vermont Green]

I suspect that his career free throw shooting % at the end of his career will be just fine.  He is a kid, starting in the NBA for the first time.  I think it is just maturity that he needs.  He has the yipps right now and has not figured out how to work through it.  He will.

[Sophomore]

I just feel like he doesn't practice them. I wonder how many players in the league shoot in the high 30's low 40's but are sub 70% free throw shooters.

He's had these issues since he was in high school. That's very strange.

He might be a better shooter when he doesn't have time to think about it - just playing in the flow of the game. Having a very active mind doesn't always help at the line. Or at least I always used that as my excuse when I'd miss my free throws back in the day.

[footey]

Okay this is becoming the elephant in the room. Last night he short armed both free throw attempts. It’s not lack of practice. It’s not Mechanic’s. It had gotten into his head. He tenses up. Heck I tense up when he goes to the line. Love the kid. Hope he solves.

[Neurotic Guy]

I suspect that his career free throw shooting % at the end of his career will be just fine.  He is a kid, starting in the NBA for the first time.  I think it is just maturity that he needs.  He has the yipps right now and has not figured out how to work through it.  He will.

I think this is correct.  However, in the meantime it is necessary to take him out at the end of games when C's are trying to seal it with FTs -- which hurts the team.  But if Marcus can make himself an adequate FT shooter there is no doubt that Jaylen can.

[jambr380]

I just feel like he doesn't practice them. I wonder how many players in the league shoot in the high 30's low 40's but are sub 70% free throw shooters.

He's had these issues since he was in high school. That's very strange.

He might be a better shooter when he doesn't have time to think about it - just playing in the flow of the game. Having a very active mind doesn't always help at the line. Or at least I always used that as my excuse when I'd miss my free throws back in the day.

I definitely think this is the case. I was watching him shoot FTs at half-time last night (NBALP) and he was swishing every single one. Obviously since he is a very good 3pt shooter, he should be at least a 75% FT shooter.

Jaylen understands that mental toughness is a big part of basketball and he is going to have to work through this adversity if he wants to take it to the next level. Given his work ethic, I think there is a good chance he will.

[cman88]

yes and no....

for this year yes we need to worry. But considering he has improved his 2pt and 3pt shot/% since coming into the NBA i think he can become a serviceable FT shooter

this isnt like Rondo who's shot was broken at all 3 levels.

[CactusThomas]

Its a concern because we need him on the floor in the final seconds of close games.  Poor ft shooters become liabilities in certain situations. 

Also, he is an incredible athlete, capable of getting to the bucket in a number of ways.  He's going to be going to the line more and more as he continues to improve as a young player.

[Csfan1984]

I'm not worried but also not expecting it to get much better. It is what it is.

[PhoSita]

I suspect he just needs to spend a summer working on it.  He seems like a guy who's focused on improving his craft, so I trust that he'll do so.

It wasn't a priority for him to work on last summer because he wasn't yet playing enough minutes to take enough free throws to significantly effect the outcome of a game.  Now that he's playing significant minutes, it's more of an issue.

[RJ87]

I'm not worried but also not expecting it to get much better. It is what it is.

Let's all hope it does. At present, it's 57%. That's DeAndre Jordan and Dwight Howard territory.

[Celtics4ever]

It is clear he worked on his threes more this year, I suspect he will shore up this hole this summer.