JJ's FT Shooting Form

[OrangeXtreme]

I think this deserves it's own thread.

 

[Cusefan0307]

George is career 75%. Not Gerry but I'll take it. Assume with maturity gets slightly better.

Kingz was 80% last year too. He should be fine there.

 

[Cuseloyal]

How do you not just foul him every time he goes up for a shot at this point?

 

[50YRsofCuse]

Starling hit 71% of his FT n 2023-2024 and 68% last year. Not great but a little better than making 2 of every 3 FTs, Airballs?? Don’t ever remember him doing that

Is it possible that his hamstring problem is still affecting him? It may have been too soon to return. I looked at his shooting form on the latter free throws and it did not look anywhere fluid, more stiff and push instead of a shot.

 

[721Comstock]

How do you not just foul him every time he goes up for a shot at this point?

Because Monmouth already had a ton of guys in foul trouble.

Even if JJ bricked every FT, eventually the opponent would run out of scholarship players.

I’m only half joking.

I think they said Donnie drew SEVEN fouls?!
That’s impressive.

Imagine if he played stronger and stopped with the fadeaway nonsense?

Later in the game he absolutely needs to be taking it TO the defender, so he gets FT’s at a minimum.

AND - is also nearer the rim so he can also potentially get the rebound if he misses.

 

[Cuseloyal]

Because Monmouth already had a ton of guys in foul trouble.

Even if JJ bricked every FT, eventually the opponent would run out of scholarship players.

I’m only half joking.

I think they said Donnie drew SEVEN fouls?!
That’s impressive.

Imagine if he played stronger and stopped with the fadeaway nonsense?

Later in the game he absolutely needs to be taking it TO the defender, so he gets FT’s at a minimum.

AND - is also nearer the rim so he can also potentially get the rebound if he misses.

Donnie needs to play off of 2 feet. Gets off balance when driving to the basket and instead of trying to make the shot just throws it up to get fouled

 

[RF2044]

JJ has always struggled with shooting, so there must be some kind of mechanical flaw.

But seeing those free throws last night... I have to ask the question, is he impaired? Is he dealing with some kind of shoulder [or whatever] injury that hasn't been disclosed, that might account for TWO airballs?

 

[23Zone]

Honestly his phone shooting is mind boggling. None of his foul shot attempts even look the same. He literally shoots it differently every single time. One of them he pulled all the way to his left side and then flicked it back. I think that's the one he shot far to the right air ball. And the one that he shot straight (also airballed) was so short it was unbelievable. Certainly there is a mental component but you would still think you would shoot the same way every time.

He is basically unplayable the last 8 minutes of a game. I think he should play 20 minutes max a game and none in the last 8 minutes

 

[hoopsupstate]

The problem is, who do you sub for him late in games? Kiyan isn’t much better.

 

[NCo’range]

Ok, JJ’s been pkaying bb for a long time right?
Is there any footage of him in high school shooting jerky free throws? Has he always had it or just at SU?
I have seen him shoot a short range jumper and it looked fine.
Can a player make a free throw anyway he/she wants? Like shooting a jump shot from the line?
Scratching my head.

 

[Cusefan0307]

The problem is, who do you sub for him late in games? Kiyan isn’t much better.

Move Kingz to the 2 and play Betsey with Donnie. We should be utilizing that lineup anyway.

 

[Bulldog04]

Anyone know if he shoots them like that in practice?

Yes he does. I actually feel really bad for him. It started early this summer. I shared in other threads that I was called to help him with the yips because that’s what this is. I gave him and the coaches tons of info on how to cure them (that’s what I do for a job) and the biggest thing was trying to change his routine leading up to the shot. He had a very tough time changing that and couldn’t break it even though results weren’t changing. This has nothing to do with form, his form is being affected by his mindset and his routine. Any golfer that has had the yips knows this very well. Once it is in your system it’s very tough to get out. And that’s where it is right now unfortunately

 

[Cusefan0307]

Yes he does. I actually feel really bad for him. It started early this summer. I shared in other threads that I was called to help him with the yips because that’s what this is. I gave him and the coaches tons of info on how to cure them (that’s what I do for a job) and the biggest thing was trying to change his routine leading up to the shot. He had a very tough time changing that and couldn’t break it even though results weren’t changing. This has nothing to do with form, his form is being affected by his mindset and his routine. Any golfer that has had the yips knows this very well. Once it is in your system it’s very tough to get out. And that’s where it is right now unfortunately

It’s very apparent that’s what it is, but how does this happen in practice. Usually someone gets the tips when they are in real competition and fail at something.

 

[djorange1989]

Yes he does. I actually feel really bad for him. It started early this summer. I shared in other threads that I was called to help him with the yips because that’s what this is. I gave him and the coaches tons of info on how to cure them (that’s what I do for a job) and the biggest thing was trying to change his routine leading up to the shot. He had a very tough time changing that and couldn’t break it even though results weren’t changing. This has nothing to do with form, his form is being affected by his mindset and his routine. Any golfer that has had the yips knows this very well. Once it is in your system it’s very tough to get out. And that’s where it is right now unfortunately

Thank you for the insight, this kind of info is what makes this site great. I don’t know how we can play him in crunch time if the yips don’t subside

 

[phsyra]

starling needs to play a lot less no matter what...we are a better team without him

 

[Bulldog04]

It’s very apparent that’s what it is, but how does this happen in practice. Usually someone gets the tips when they are in real competition and fail at something.

Because he is static and not moving. If you look at that 3 he made last night in the corner, that was such a hard shot, but he was constantly moving to get into a motion and it was so pure. The isolation of the free throw of “just standing there” has really gotten in his head unfortunately. He also wasn’t picking a “target” on the rim as well. He basically was seeing the backboard and rim as one giant target, so it’s really easy to miss shots that way. Tried to change what he looks at and how he “gets into the shot”, but his anxiety is winning right now and that’s how this goes at times

 

[orangefog]

JJ has always struggled with shooting, so there must be some kind of mechanical flaw.

But seeing those free throws last night... I have to ask the question, is he impaired? Is he dealing with some kind of shoulder [or whatever] injury that hasn't been disclosed, that might account for TWO airballs?

I couldn't sleep last night, I kept having nightmares about those free throws. I feel like just about any coach could fix that shot in minutes. To contort his body like that to shoot a straight shot is bizarre. It can't be a shoulder issue, because that three he made was smooth. It is a mental thing. Free throws are one of the easiest thing and we have players that turn it into a painful adventure.

 

[Cusefan0307]

Because he is static and not moving. If you look at that 3 he made last night in the corner, that was such a hard shot, but he was constantly moving to get into a motion and it was so pure. The isolation of the free throw of “just standing there” has really gotten in his head unfortunately. He also wasn’t picking a “target” on the rim as well. He basically was seeing the backboard and rim as one giant target, so it’s really easy to miss shots that way. Tried to change what he looks at and how he “gets into the shot”, but his anxiety is winning right now and that’s how this goes at times

Only a sports psychologist can help with that. I'm aware you know more than most here, but maybe he should try granny style. Who cares about style points.

 

[cuse62]

Hear me out here - this may seem crazy, and maybe they’ve worked with him on this, but I almost feel like he should practice his free throws with just his right hand. It seemed to me whatever he is doing with that hitch would not be possible without the left hand on the ball. It’s only supposed to be there to somewhat guide the ball anyway, right? Obviously I wouldn’t expect him to shoot with just one hand, but maybe that would get his muscle memory back to a good place. Just spitballing here. It’s painful to watch and I feel bad for him.

It is funny you mention this. My former brother in law was a college basketball coach. When he had a player having trouble shooting free throws, he made the player shoot them one handed. He did this in both practice and games.

 

[Bulldog04]

It is funny you mention this. My former brother in law was a college basketball coach. When he had a player having trouble shooting free throws, he made the player shoot them one handed. He did this in both practice and games.

You see a lot of golfers chip one handed now as well. It’s all about triggering the brain to think “something different” is happening

 

[dollarbill44]

Ok, JJ’s been pkaying bb for a long time right?
Is there any footage of him in high school shooting jerky free throws? Has he always had it or just at SU?
I have seen him shoot a short range jumper and it looked fine.
Can a player make a free throw anyway he/she wants? Like shooting a jump shot from the line?
Scratching my head.

You can take a jump shot as long as you don't cross the line.

 

[dollarbill44]

I couldn't sleep last night, I kept having nightmares about those free throws.

That's a potential red flag for you. Now I'm going to be up all night worrying about you.

 

[orangefog]

 

[cliftonparksufan]

Anyone know if he shoots them like that in practice?

I would guess it's similar to golf. You go to the driving range and you hit 100 golf balls. No matter your skill level, you are going to get into a groove. A very good player might hit 90+ shots that he feels good about. A high handicap golfer (aka Duffer) is going to hit less, but still more than his percentage when he steps onto the tee box.

JJ is a Duffer on the FT line. He just needs to find his routine (bounce the ball twice, take a deep breath, bend your knees and shoot) and stop thinking about a million things.

I'm leaning that it's more mental than physical, but his form is not good, but hopefully would be able to be fixed. Fixing the mental part, might take a much longer time frame.

 

[orangefog]

JJ's form looks like this...