Free Throw Disparity By Team

[Full Court]

The author of this article does a good job getting to the core of this.

https://sports.yahoo.com/nba-fact-or-fiction-the-overwhelming-free-throw-disparity-that-favors-lebron-james-lakers-220709544.html


So here is a breakdown, by team, of free throw disparities between each team and its opponents.

TEAM | FTA | OPP FTA | DISPARITY

Lakers | 2027 | 1599 | 428

Kings | 1941 | 1736 | 205

Heat | 1783 | 1609 | 174

Knicks | 1978 | 1824 | 154

Magic | 1907 | 1768 | 139

Clippers | 1840 | 1711 | 129

76ers | 1941 | 1812 | 129

Bucks | 1731 | 1623 | 129

Rockets | 1943 | 1865 | 78

Wizards | 1703 | 1641 | 62

Blazers | 1896 | 1843 | 53

Cavaliers | 1760 | 1719 | 41

Pelicans | 1828 | 1789 | 39

Grizzlies | 1845 | 1808 | 37

Raptors | 1813 | 1776 | 37

Mavericks | 1962 | 1928 | 34

Celtics | 1658 | 1637 | 21

Jazz | 1835 | 1827 | 8

Pistons | 1963 | 1965 | -2

Hornets | 1833 | 1863 | -30

Nuggets | 1674 | 1714 | -40

Bulls | 1673 | 1728 | -55

Hawks | 1699 | 1765 | -66

Pacers | 1791 | 1967 | -176

Thunder | 1792 | 1970 | -178

Wolves | 1826 | 2016 | -190

Nets | 1674 | 1878 | -204

Spurs | 1591 | 1808 | -217

Suns | 1645 | 1962 | -317

Warriors | 1547 | 1949 | -402



Now I have my own thoughts on what this means, but I want to hear what other people think first.

[Real Men Wear Green]

James is the biggest star and he gets calls. It is what it is. Cherish that Tatum no-call folks, in a roundabout way it was justice.

[Full Court]

James is the biggest star and he gets calls. It is what it is. Cherish that Tatum no-call folks, in a roundabout way it was justice.

James getting calls only accounts for a small fraction of the discrepancy. Also, Curry is the second biggest star, and look at the Warriors....

[Jasper]

Warriors are so good they don't need free throws.

[bladefd]

This graphic is misleading if you don't know the context. It's the 17th-best differential this century.

Recent leaders in differential:
2023 LAL +5.6
2022 UTA +4.1
2021 NOP +5.0
2020 OKC +5.3
2019 DAL +3.3
2018 CHA +8.8
2017 CHA +5.6
2016 HOU +4.7
2015 SAC +6.1
2014 HOU +8.6https://twitter.com/ElGee35/status/1641461371459219456


But with some context, it’s not that egregious. Averaged out, the Lakers attempt 5.6 more free throws per game than their opponents, a number that isn’t even the largest we’ve seen in recent years.

We all remember the uproar when the 2018 Charlotte Hornets shot 722 more free throws than their opponents, right? Or when the 2014 Houston Rockets shot 419 more than their opponent.https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2023/3/31/23663954/lakers-free-throw-rate-attempts-difference-opponents-nba-fouls

[ArbitraryWater]

James is the biggest star and he gets calls. It is what it is. Cherish that Tatum no-call folks, in a roundabout way it was justice.


:facepalm

[RRR3]

James is the biggest star and he gets calls. It is what it is. Cherish that Tatum no-call folks, in a roundabout way it was justice.
Tatum averages 2.2 more fta per game than LeBron :lol

[Real Men Wear Green]

Tatum averages 2.2 more fta per game than LeBron :lol

A little more justice. Win win.

[Stephonit]

Steph so good they need to stack the deck against him to keep the league looking competitive while on the other end giving their chosen one as many freebies as possible to prop up his sagging reputation.