Improving the league-worst free throws
Where to even begin? How about starting with the fact that the Miami Heat ranked 29th in free throws made with 1238 or that they ranked dead last in percentage with 69.5 percent. To make things even worse for the Heat fans, the Los Angeles Lakers were better.
Here are some quick facts about the team’s free throw percentage:
- 35 times the team shot less than 70 percent with a minimum 10 attempts.
- The worst shooting game was 26.3 percent, 5 out of 19.
- The best free-throw shooter, minimum 100 attempts was Josh Richardson with 86.1 percent.
- The worst free-throw shooter, a minimum of 100 attempts was Hassan Whiteside with 44.9 percent.
- Out of all the players that attempted a minimum of 100 free throws, five of the players shot below a league average.
To make matters worse, the Heat’s top two free-throw shooters, Wayne Ellington, and Josh Richardson are gone.
Now, those are just plain numbers giving us zero to no context. So, let’s add some, shall we? There were 15 games that were in the clutch situation and one can argue that if the team made a couple of more the result would have been different.
Out of those 15 games, there were six games where the team missed more free throws than the margin of loss:
- Versus the Detroit Pistons, 98-93 – missed 14 free throws
- Versus the Sacramento Kings, 102-96 – missed 10 free throws
- Versus the Golden State Warriors, 120-118 – missed four free throws
- Versus the Toronto Raptors, 106-104 – missed six free throws
- Versus the Atlanta Hawks, 115-113 – missed 10 free throws
- Versus the Charlotte Hornets, 113-112 – missed eight free throws
Those are six easily winnable games if the team makes just a couple more free throws. If the Miami Heat can win just three of these games and they are in the playoffs.
The free-throw percentage isn’t the only issue here. The team ranked 29th in free throws made and 22nd in free throws attempted. There are only five players that have made more than 100 free throws.
Free throws are basically non-existent in the Miami Heat’s offense and that can’t continue. Luckily for the Heat, these three additions will certainly help that.
Jimmy Butler will definitely help with the problem. Last season, Butler was a highly reliable free throw shooter. He is ranked:
- 26th in free throw percentage
- 16th in free throw makes
- 20th in free throw attempts
Both Meyers Leonard and Tyler Herro are great free-throw shooters. In college, Herro has made an outstanding 93 percent of his shots. Last season, Leonard has made 84 percent of his shots.
Hopefully, with these three players, the Heat will improve in the three categories and finally won’t be dead last in the league.