The Warriors’ glaring free throw problem dooms them in a loss to the Clippers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
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INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Like a college atmosphere full of unruly students entertaining their rivals, the Intuit Dome The Wall certainly creates a unique experience for an NBA game. Die-hard Los Angeles Clippers fans chant in unison, rarely sit and wave signs back and forth as the opposition attempts their free throws.
The Warriors had nothing but good things to say about their first trip to the Clippers’ new arena, from the many high-tech amenities to the spacious visiting locker room and even the fan atmosphere. What they wouldn’t do was give credit to The Wall for the Warriors’ continued struggles at the free throw line Monday night in their 102-99 loss to the Clippers, who are now responsible for two of Golden State’s three losses this season.
“No, no,” coach Steve Kerr said after being asked about the effect The Wall has on free throws. “These guys are used to this kind of thing. But it’s a great atmosphere. That’s the main thing because you want a great atmosphere in any building you play in, and this is a great atmosphere here.”
If only the vibes had been as good for the Warriors’ free-throw shooting, the outcome might have been different. Turnovers and carelessness with the ball were undoubtedly the main reason the Warriors flew home on the losing side of sloppy play all around. Nor can one deny what has become evident so far.
This team has a free throw problem.
It hasn’t hurt them terribly in the win column to this point, but just like the Warriors’ margin for error isn’t what it once was during their dynasty where they could only win with superior talent, the same can be said for elemental part of the game.
“I think we came into the game dead last in free throws. We also came into the game 10-2,” Kerr said. “They didn’t hurt us until tonight. We have to work on it, obviously. Our guys have to get in the gym and find their rhythm, find their confidence from the line.”
In a three-point loss Monday night, the Warriors were outscored by seven points at the free throw line. They tried 19 and missed more than they did, counting nine makes and 10 misses. The Clippers, on the other hand, took 18 free throws and missed only twice, a success rate of 88.9 percent.
Or almost twice as good as the Warriors’ 47.4 percent.
Shooting in front of The Wall in the first half, the Warriors went 4 of 10 on free throws, while also converting a lowly 33.3 percent (7 of 21) of their 3-point attempts. The Warriors then went 5 of 9 (55.6 percent) on free throws in the second half after the court reversed for them, and were 9 of 23 (39.1 percent) beyond the arc.
Five Warriors shot free throws against the Clippers, and none of them were perfect from the line. Draymond Green was 1 of 2. Trayce Jackson-Davis missed both of his free throws, Jonathan Kuminga only made one of his four free throws and Brandin Podziemski was 1 of 3. The bright spot was Andrew Wiggins, who shot eight free throws and made six .
Wiggins went from being a 62.9 percent free throw shooter between the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons to upping his numbers to 75.1 percent last season. After Monday night, he is now at 72.3 percent this season. Improvements, according to Wiggins, come from the simplest form of hard work.
“Repeat,” he said. “That’s the best thing about it. Just walk into the gym and get fired up. Feeling good about yourself, so you feel good in the game.”
Piling up turnovers has slowed the game down to a pace the Warriors don’t want to play offensively. That’s not their style. Running and shooting is, as opposed to methodical, at crawling a snail.
Math shows that 19 turnovers accounting for 31 Clippers points was the Warriors’ biggest factor in falling to the Southern California competition for the second time this season. The numbers also demonstrate what a difference a few more free throws would have made in a game that was decided by a wild scramble in the end.
“Maybe free throws eat away at your confidence the rest of the game because it distracts you from leaving easy points at the line,” Steph Curry said. “But I didn’t arrive tonight, so I couldn’t help.”
Boy, do the Warriors wish he could have. Curry made 94 percent of his free throws this season, going 33 of 35. The rest of the Warriors went 170 of 265, making an unacceptable 64 percent of their free throws. They are the only team in the NBA to make less than 70 percent of their free throws, ranking last overall at a not-so-pretty 69.7 percent.
In a season where so much went right early, so much went wrong trying to get the mental gymnastics of free throws.
