Groups are capturing traditionally nicely on free throws towards Wizards

There’s a little bit of an odd statistical development maligning the Wizards in the mean time and one they might not have a complete lot of management over.

By means of two months of the 2022-23 season, groups are capturing the very best free throw share in NBA historical past towards the Wizards. Washington opponents are pulling down 81.6% of their free throws, the best clip of all-time towards any crew in a single season.

Free throws, after all, usually are not performs that you may defend. That is why they’re referred to as free. The group can do their half by making noise, typically aided by free sandwich giveaways, however in the end it is a managed setting the place an NBA participant has 10 seconds to shoot from 15 ft.

Now, here is the place it will get actually bizarre for the Wizards. Final season, they set an NBA document for opponent free throw share at 80.7. So, that is now two years in a row which, on one hand, would counsel it is not a coincidence, that there are some the explanation why.

One among them could be merely that the NBA is getting higher at capturing free throws. This season, the league common free throw share is 78.1, the best in NBA historical past. The final 4 seasons have produced the 4 highest free throw percentages the league has ever seen.

Whereas the Wizards had the best opponent free throw share ever final season, there are 4 groups seeing larger percentages this yr, with Washington being considered one of them. The Pacers (81.2%), Kings (81.2%) and Raptors (80.8%) are all primarily in the identical boat. The Hawks (80.7%) and Suns (80.5%) usually are not far behind.

 

Principally, it’s a yearslong development within the NBA and the Wizards occur to be on the worst finish of it. As for why that’s the case, it is exhausting to inform.

They do not foul lots in comparison with different groups, which retains the pattern measurement smaller than their friends. The Wizards are tenth within the NBA in fouls per sport (19.9) and twelfth in limiting free throws (23.0/g). 

Possibly they’re fouling the unsuitable gamers. Nets star Kevin Durant, as an illustration, is an ideal 22-of-22 from the road towards the Wizards this season by way of three video games. He shoots 92.2% on free throws, however then once more the Wizards haven’t fouled him any greater than he averages on the yr (7.4/g).

Jaylen Brown of the Celtics is 14-for-14 towards the Wizards, whereas his teammate Malcolm Brogdon is 12-for-12. Anthony Davis of the Lakers is 9-for-9 and so is Tyrese Haliburton of the Pacers. There are additionally a bunch of gamers who’ve solely missed a free throw or two throughout a number of video games enjoying towards Washington.

The Wizards’ house crowd is to not blame for it. Opponents towards the Wizards shoot 79.5% on free throws at Capital One Area, decrease than their season common and the sixth-highest within the league for a crew’s house video games. Conversely, the Wizards are seeing opponents shoot the best free throw share in street arenas this season (83.9).

The breakdown by quarters would not provide any conclusions, both. Groups shoot above 80% towards the Wizards in every body. 

There would not appear to be an apparent rhyme or purpose to it, however the Wizards are being affected by the disparity. They’ve struggled to generate their very own free throws this season, rating within the backside third of the NBA in free throws made (17.0/g, twenty fifth), makes an attempt (22.4/g, twenty first) and share (75.9, twenty third).

Maybe the very best factor the Wizards can do transferring ahead is just not foul gamers who shoot excessive percentages from the road. Apart from that, possibly a diversion of some kind would do the trick. 

Basketball Reference’s Stathead was used for this analysis.