The Value of Free Throws

[AbeVigodaLive]

The Lakers have made up quite a bit of ground in the playoff chase. But there's no LeBron James. Just how are they doing it?!?!?!?

They have an uncanny ability to shoot a lot of free throws... but rarely foul anybody. They lead the NBA in FTA... but are #3 in limiting FTA for the opponent. For the season, they take 5 more free throws than their opponent. And they're getting better at it apparently!

In the Lakers past 20 games...

- They've shot more free throws than their opponent in 18 of those 20 games... with one tie... and only once did they shoot fewer (NY).
- Opponents are shooting 18 attempts per game. Lakers are taking 28 attempts per game. Both would lead the league by a lot.

Amazing coaching and kudos for the players for getting to the line and avoiding fouling. Truly amazing.


[note: last night, undrafted austin reaves shot 18 free throws. (by comparison, edwards' career high is 14.) reaves has 40 attempts in his last 3 games... in less than 30 mpg.]

[FNG]

Good post, and a couple things to unpack.

Maybe some star treatment involved here with the Lakers? AD and LeBron average 14 free throw attempts per game, and likely get some "star" calls on defense too. The Wolves in contrast have one of the worst FTA differentials...our -2.5 adds up to a 7.5 deficit to the Lakers. That's significant. Maybe coaching, but maybe some star treatment.

And yeah, Reaves is terrific...he's making threes, getting to the line, and facilitating, On a night where the Laker starters were outplayed by an improving Magic starting 5, Reaves and his supporting cast kept them away from a bad home loss. Vando and Beasley continue to play poorly (Beas only 31.5% on threes in his last 10, and we know how poorly he defends). Why Beas continues to start over Reaves (and get 27 minutes a night) is a mystery to me, but I hope Ham continues to play Beas a lot.

[AbeVigodaLive]

Good post, and a couple things to unpack.

Maybe some star treatment involved here with the Lakers? AD and LeBron average 14 free throw attempts per game, and likely get some "star" calls on defense too. The Wolves in contrast have one of the worst FTA differentials...our -2.5 adds up to a 7.5 deficit to the Lakers. That's significant. Maybe coaching, but maybe some star treatment.

And yeah, Reaves is terrific...he's making threes, getting to the line, and facilitating, On a night where the Laker starters were outplayed by an improving Magic starting 5, Reaves and his supporting cast kept them away from a bad home loss. Vando and Beasley continue to play poorly (Beas only 31.5% on threes in his last 10, and we know how poorly he defends). Why Beas continues to start over Reaves (and get 27 minutes a night) is a mystery to me, but I hope Ham continues to play Beas a lot.

LeBron James has missed 14 of the 20 games.

[FNG]

Good post, and a couple things to unpack.

Maybe some star treatment involved here with the Lakers? AD and LeBron average 14 free throw attempts per game, and likely get some "star" calls on defense too. The Wolves in contrast have one of the worst FTA differentials...our -2.5 adds up to a 7.5 deficit to the Lakers. That's significant. Maybe coaching, but maybe some star treatment.

And yeah, Reaves is terrific...he's making threes, getting to the line, and facilitating, On a night where the Laker starters were outplayed by an improving Magic starting 5, Reaves and his supporting cast kept them away from a bad home loss. Vando and Beasley continue to play poorly (Beas only 31.5% on threes in his last 10, and we know how poorly he defends). Why Beas continues to start over Reaves (and get 27 minutes a night) is a mystery to me, but I hope Ham continues to play Beas a lot.

LeBron James has missed 14 of the 20 games.

Yeah, I was using season-long stats where the differential is still extreme. albeit not as striking as the past 20. And Davis might be getting star treatment with his 9 FTAs per game this month in LBJ's absence. But Reaves hasn't established himself as a star in the league by any means, and he's averaging 7.7 in March. Not an aberration for Reaves by the way. While poor 3-point shooting might have kept him from getting drafted, he demonstrated a knack for getting to the line at Oklahoma also. I really like his offensive game.

[AbeVigodaLive]

Those 7.7 FTA in March would put him 10th in the league if he can keep up the pace (or improve it).

Giannis
Embiid
Doncic
SGA
Lillard
Butler
Morant
Tatum
Young
Austin Reaves

All NBA teams to follow...?

[FNG]

I listened to the Lakers game on the way home from the game last night, and the Laker announcers were astonished at their ability to draw fouls. "What are the Suns doing out there?". Sure enough, the Lakers ended up with an astonishing 46-20 advantage in free throws! AD and Reaves led the way, but Dlo drew 7 himself. This trend is only going to get more extreme when LeBron returns. This could be a problem when we face them in a must-win game on the 31st.

[Coolbreeze44]

The NBA desperately wants the Lakers to make the playoffs. These stats Abe brings up are pretty telling to me. You might be witnessing some pressure from the league's biggest source of revenue (TV) to get Lebron and LA into the tournament.

[kekgeek]

The NBA desperately wants the Lakers to make the playoffs. These stats Abe brings up are pretty telling to me. You might be witnessing some pressure from the league's biggest source of revenue (TV) to get Lebron and LA into the tournament.

I always love a good conspiracy. Wolves get Ben Taylor who was demoted by the NBA. The lakers get Scott Foster vs CP3 who CP3 is 0-14 all time in Scott Foster reffed playoff games.