I thought this was interesting.
"Consider Tim Duncan, who's worked industriously to boost his free-throw percentage into the low 70's. Duncan is well aware that his career free-throw percentage at Wake Forest was 68.9, with a low mark of 63.6 in his senior year. Furthermore, Duncan cannot so easily forget that in the 2000-01 NBA season, he converted only 61.8 percent of his foul shots.
The point is that, no matter how much they've improved, players who used to be poor free-throw shooters still subconsciously expect to embarrass themselves at the line.
Also, one bricklayer on the team increases the pressure on all of his teammates. To make up for the real and expected misses of Player X, everybody else feels it necessary to shoot 100 percent. The resulting tightness means that even the good shooters are below par. That's why bad free-throw shooting is contagious.
Give the Mavericks credit for their heart, their hustle, and their resourcefulness. Even so, Dallas cannot win the series.
But the Spurs can certainly lose it."
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I dont like the fact that either team is poor at the foul line.
This sucks when I want the over and need points at the end game. My prediction would be that the foul shots may not be made, but it will be raining three's !
Even if Dirk plays in this game it will largely be for moral support. He will get pushed hard under the basket a few times and go to the bench the rest of the game.
I wonder if Dirk has a Frankenstein collection.
KOD
