On the subject of free throws

An interesting stat made the rounds today: Dwight Howard has missed as many free throws (332) this season, as Steve Nash has in his ENTIRE 17-year career.  Howard is coming in this season at 314-for-646, a balmy 49%, which is dead last among qualified players.  That is down from his career average of 57%.

Nash, on the other hand, is a 90.4% career free throw shooter, the best in history.  So maybe not the most fair comparison.  Nevertheless, still ridiculous to think about.  All that money, and you can't even count on him to make free throws.  A franchise cornerstone who is a liability at the end of close games.  Wild. 

 

Dwight Howard's poor free throw shooting leads to spike in kitten deaths

Luckily free throws aren't what wins and loses games according to this genius.  Wait... the Lakes lost last night after he missed both these free throws when they were down 92-90?  I'm sure that didn't have any bearing on the outcome of the game.  They lost because of poor defense and poor defense alone.

Every time Dwight Howard misses a free throw, Ron Ron kicks a kitten.  Howard has single-handedly helped control that cat population of Los Angeles. 

Great job, Dwight!

'Sheed Doin' 'Sheed: First "Ball Don't Lie" Ejection

Crime against humanity, what the refs did to 'Sheed yesterday.  This better not be signifying the end of the "Ball don't lie" era.  David Stern needs to step in here.  If they are trying to remove "Ball don't lie" from the NBA, they are going to remove some fans, too; including this one.

Not really, but I love issuing ultimatums.  Fuck you, Stern.

Dwight Howard Loses Shooting Contest to Hockey Mascot

I just don't get it.  You make $20 million a year and you can't make a god damn free throw.  It drives me bonkers.  Surprisingly, Howard going 3-12 from the line in LA's loss to the hapless Pacers last night by 2 points was not his worst shooting performance of the day.  No, that was losing a shooting contest (video at bottom of page) to Bailey, the mascot of the LA Kings, a HOCKEY team.  Dude was draining shots with an over-sized lion's head on!  You seriously can't beat a mascot in a shooting contest?  Of course being the huge squid that he is, Howard used the old "I let him win" excuse when asked for reaction by reporters post contest.

Free Throw Shenanigans

Two funny free throw moments from last night... first is 'Sheed doing 'Sheed.  At the :30 mark of the video below you can hear him yelling his catch phrase "Ball don't lie!"

Also, please note Jason Kidd in the background.  His headband looks absolutely ridiculous.  I know he is wearing it like that to cover a gash that required 8 stitches to close, but he looks like a homeless person.  Side note: His kid is uglier than sin.

The next is Dwight Howard being a big fucking dumbass.  Wipe that goofy grin off your face dude, you just air balled the easiest shot in basketball.  I will never understand how professional basketball players cannot make free throws.  Dwight went 7-19 last night from the line.

If I was one of Dwight Howard's teammates and was a lot bigger than I am, I would slap that stupid smile off of his face.  Those 12 misses could've easily cost the Lakers the game.

C'mon Kobe.  Live up to your MO from this year and clown this loser.

Sixers Undefeated

Blackface and I went to the Sixers opener last night to watch 'Dre and 'Dre reunite on the floor for the first time since their days together in South Philly.  Much of the same product.  Iggy made his first jumper, but went 4-12 after that including a miserable 0-4 from 3 (many of the same stupid pull up 3's) and a frustrating 1-3 from the line.  Every time Iggy touched the ball, he was booed.  It was SO Philly.  I got a bit nostalgic halfway through the first quarter when the last 45 seconds of game 6 of the Chicago series was played on the scoreboard, but then I reminded myself that was the highlight of Iggy's 8 YEARS in Philly and I snapped out of it.  I don't know if the Sixers' defense looked good last night or the Gallinari-less Nuggets were just that bad (they were), but they held the Nuggets to an abysmal 75 points.  The Sixers winning a game after shooting 35% from the field and 28% from three is encouraging especially with all the preseason hype Denver has gotten.  Don't get me wrong, if the Sixers want to compete in the Eastern Conference this year, the offense needs to get markedly better, but a win is a win.  The offense is definitely running through Jrue as he matched his season high from last year in assists with 11 while scoring 14 points on a lackluster 5-16 shooting.  As the season progresses, I'm sure we'll see the Jream get into a rhythm and that shooting percentage will pick up. 

I pushed over a small child to grab a Jrue's Jream Team T-Shirt out of the mother of all t-shirt cannons, but the highlight of the night was definitely a packed Wells Fargo chanting 'MVP' for Spencer Hawes after he put up 16, 12 and 2 along with 2 steals and 2 blocks.

Photo cred to Blackface Logan from his iPhone... step your quality game up, Apple.

And We're Off!!!

The NBA season tipped off last night with the Heat beating the Celtics and the Mavs surprising the Lakers.  Oh and Uncle Drew put up 29 to go with the Brazilian Rodman's 23 boards to lead the Cavs over the injury riddled Wizards.

First observation is the Lakers' bench is atrocious.  They kind of remind me of Miami of 2010.  If Nash, Gasol, Bryant and Howard don't pour in 20ppg each, the Lakers have little chance of winning.  Nash struggled last night finishing with only 7 points and 4 assists, and generally looked out of sorts the entire game.  Kobe looked hampered by his strained foot, lacking the explosiveness that we have come to expect from him, but The Black Mamba shot an incredibly efficient 11/14 to end with 22 points.  Gasol and Howard both looked good putting up around 20 and 10, but Howard's free throw shooting was again a huge factor.  He went 3/14 from the line missing several clutch freebies.  If he can't improve his free throw shooting, there is no way you can have him on the floor in the clutch and he will always be the second best big in the league.

Second observation: D. Wade and Rondo should kick box.  It all started in the 2011 playoffs when the fashionista known as D. Wade intentionally tackled Rondo to the floor dislocating his elbow in the process.

Seems Rondo didn't forget the pain associated with a dislocated joint and last night he went for the kill towards the end of the Celtics 120-107 loss in Miami.

This rivalry is getting to be all kinds of hot.  Wade called the foul a "punk play" after the game and said he almost threw the ball at Rondo, but got scared Rondo would try to fight him and did not want to risk a broken nail.  These teams both looked great last night and barring the Fountain of Youth being discovered in Grand Central, these teams will be your Eastern Conference Finals representatives.