Poor Free Throw Shooting Which Changed Hisotry

[Stringer Bell]

Pretty much every year you see a team eliminated from the NCAA tournament because of poor free throw shooting. Derrick Rose missed out on a national title in 2008 because Memphis had an epic collapse due to atrocious free throw shooting.

Of course there the infamous Nick Anderson 4 missed FTs. Although that put the momentum in Houston's favor, I really don't think that would have changed the result. Houston would have won anyway IMO.

I'm thinking more of examples in which there would have been different champs if not for poor free throw shooting.

1995- Houston came back from a 3-1 deficit, without HCA, against Phoenix. Game 5 would have wrapped it up and eliminated Houston. Phoenix's poor FT shooting really hurt them. Barkley missed 3 of 4 free-throws in the last 2 minutes of regulation. For the game, Houston shot 17-22 (77%) at the charity stripe. Phoenix went 20-34 (59%). Phoenix loses in OT and then loses the next 2.

2002- obvious choice in game 7. After the infamous game 6, Sacramento still would have won game 7 if they could make their FTs. LA went 27-33 (82%) at the foul line, Sacramento went 16-30 (53%). And the game went to OT, showing how close it was.

There's no guarantee that Magic's missed FTs in game 4 in 1984 in OT, with the game tied and about 35 seconds left (and then Worthy going 1-2 later which would have tied), would have guaranteed a win. It sure would have helped their chances though. If they go up 3-1, things would be really rough for Boston.

2013 NBA Finals Game 6- obvious choice.

[Im so nba'd out]

cliff notes please

[L.Kizzle]

LeBron and Gilbert Arenas in 2006.

[kennethgriffin]

for every action there is a reaction

if embiid doesnt break his foot. the cavs take him #1

and hes an untradable asset if hes 100%. which means lebron might not go to cleveland for a rebuilding process since he wouldnt have the love deal in place to look forward to

then maybe lebron goes to chicago or back to miami. who knows

little things change history all the time

[Marchesk]

little things change history all the time

Would any change make Kobe the GOAT?

[imnew09]

Dwight Howard choked at the FT in the final.

Kwahi missed a FT to seal the final game against the Heat. Lebron would've been 1*/5

[Stringer Bell]

little things change history all the time

Yes, such as missed free throws, which is what I am talking about.

Kwahi missed a FT to seal the final game against the Heat. Lebron would've been 1*/5

Ginobili also.

[oarabbus]

Would any change make Kobe the GOAT?

MJ, Bill Russell, etc's parents were infertile.

[MP.Trey]

LeBron and Gilbert Arenas in 2006.

LOL "if you miss these, you know you gon lose right?" Proceeds to clank two free throws and choke away the game.

[Proctor]

MJ, Bill Russell, etc's parents were infertile.

[kennethgriffin]

Would any change make Kobe the GOAT?

easly. i made a thread on it a few months ago


if in 2003 horry doesnt go 3 for 50 in the playoffs. lakers win 4 straight titles

if in 2004 malone plays in the finals. lakers win 5 straight titles

if in 2006 tim thomas doesnt get that rebound. lakers go to atleast the finals ( kobe owned the clippers and mavs that year )

if in 2008 bynum plays. lakers win the title

if phil jackson is hired instead of d'antoni. and nash/howard/gasol all stay healthy. thats a possible title or 2

if chris paul trade isnt veto'd.. him kobe/dwight dominate the next 3-4 years



if eddie jones isnt on the lakers his 1st 2 years. his career average is 28ppg instead of 25ppg


if in 2003, 2006, 2007 kobe won mvp the same way jordan won mvp in 1988.


then after all this. we're looking at a career of all time epic ring counts, mvps, finals mvps and stats


but little things change history and our kobe has to settle with top 5-6 instead of goat

[millwad]

A lot of people claim that Nick Anderson was the player who had the biggest choking moment in FT-history in the NBA, they are wrong.

Wilt in '69 gave away a ring due to being an awful FT-shooter, they lost after a 7 game series in the finals and Wilt just flat out choked from the FT-line.

Game 4 of the '69 finals the Lakers and Wilt lost with 1 point against the Celtics, Wilt choked big time from the FT-line and only made 2 out of 11 FT's.

In game 7 of the '69 finals the Lakers and Wilt lost with 2 points against the Celtics, Wilt in that game only made 4 out of 13 FT's.

Wilt made Anderson look clutch..

[dubeta]

easly. i made a thread on it a few months ago


if in 2003 horry doesnt go 3 for 50 in the playoffs. lakers win 4 straight titles

if in 2004 malone plays in the finals. lakers win 5 straight titles

if in 2006 tim thomas doesnt get that rebound. lakers go to atleast the finals ( kobe owned the clippers and mavs that year )

if in 2008 bynum plays. lakers win the title

if phil jackson is hired instead of d'antoni. and nash/howard/gasol all stay healthy. thats a possible title or 2

if chris paul trade isnt veto'd.. him kobe/dwight dominate the next 3-4 years



if eddie jones isnt on the lakers his 1st 2 years. his career average is 28ppg instead of 25ppg


if in 2003, 2006, 2007 kobe won mvp the same way jordan won mvp in 1988.


then after all this. we're looking at a career of all time epic ring counts, mvps, finals mvps and stats


but little things change history and our kobe has to settle with top 5-6 instead of goat

LOOL so many ifs for Kobe to be GOAT


The only if for LeBron was if Wade was healthy in Miami

That would be 4 rings by now and LeBron would be eventually be GOAT

[SouBeachTalents]

LOOL so many ifs for Kobe to be GOAT


The only if for LeBron was if Wade was healthy in Miami

That would be 4 rings by now and LeBron would be eventually be GOAT

Wade was healthy in 2011

[SouBeachTalents]

easly. i made a thread on it a few months ago


if in 2003 horry doesnt go 3 for 50 in the playoffs. lakers win 4 straight titles

if in 2004 malone plays in the finals. lakers win 5 straight titles

if in 2006 tim thomas doesnt get that rebound. lakers go to atleast the finals ( kobe owned the clippers and mavs that year )

if in 2008 bynum plays. lakers win the title

if phil jackson is hired instead of d'antoni. and nash/howard/gasol all stay healthy. thats a possible title or 2

if chris paul trade isnt veto'd.. him kobe/dwight dominate the next 3-4 years



if eddie jones isnt on the lakers his 1st 2 years. his career average is 28ppg instead of 25ppg


if in 2003, 2006, 2007 kobe won mvp the same way jordan won mvp in 1988.


then after all this. we're looking at a career of all time epic ring counts, mvps, finals mvps and stats


but little things change history and our kobe has to settle with top 5-6 instead of goat

What if

The Trail Blazers don't choke in the 4th quarter of Game 7

Horry doesn't make that 3 against the King in Game 4

Game 6 isn't the most rigged game in NBA history

The Kings don't miss 14 free throws in Game 7

KG doesn't get hurt in '09

Artest doesn't make that buzzer beater against the Suns

Perkins doesn't get hurt in 2010

Artest doesn't make that 3 in Game 7


Or, biggest ones of all

Kobe doesn't get traded to the Lakers

The Lakers don't sign Shaq