File it under the heading: “First World Problems.” Still there’s something almost endearing about NBA Players’ lament of “no hoop to shoot at” in a recent article, here. Faced with being out of action for 2 months that usually are the heart of playoff time, some have resorted to ordering and assembling <no! say it ain’t so!> portable outdoor hoops for their driveways. Myers Leonard, center for the Miami Heat, describes the process this way.
It took six hours without the proper wrenches and with limited equipment. “Ever try putting together an Ikea dresser?” Leonard said. “This hoop was like putting together three of them.”
Well now, I can relate, even though I officially retired from the game last Christmas. Yep, after a half century of lofting up shots at rims nailed to barn beams, corn cribs, and the side of my garage – not to mention the local YMCA – I finally hung up my sneakers. More recently, I’ve outfitted two apartments mostly with Ikea furnishings. So on several levels I know whereof the Heat center speaks.
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At least now they can practice free throws under stay-at-home orders. One thing about it, though: With all this time to practice free throw shooting, I’m gonna expect the aggregate NBA free throw percentage to rise when play resumes. I mean, c’mon: 500 shots a day has gotta help the league’s brick-laying big men to improve their paltry averages from the charity stripe, right?
Who knows? If Wilt Chamberlain had had an opportunity like this during his Hall of Fame days, he might have ended up somewhere north of his 51.1% FT career average. And as strategies go, the hack-a-Shaq (Shaq’s career FT average: 52.7%) might never have seen the light of day. So c’mon guys – get out there and practice in yer driveways. We fans are waiting – and watching. And expecting big improvements.
Shocking to me that they wouldn’t own a backboard already!!