Nugg Love
Fansided

One aspect Nuggets must improve

By Mathew Huff

NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Of the many struggles which has plagued the Nuggets this season, Denver must improve the free throw shooting.

The Nuggets have been a terrible free throw shooting team to start the season.

More from Nugg Love

For a team with solid career free throw shooters such as Wilson Chandler, Paul Millsap, Nikola Jokic and Gary Harris, this needs to turn around if they are going to compete in the competitive Western Conference. According to teamrankings.com, Denver is currently 28th in free throw shooting with a percentage of 71.8%.

The only two teams who are worse are the Charlotte Hornets and Philadelphia 76ers. In their last three games, their percentage has been even worse at 67.9%. The weird thing is that the team is shooting better on the road than they are at home. On the road, they are shooting a free throw shooting percentage of 75.7%  compared to their home free throw percentage of 68.5%.

Free throws are one of the most important of the game and they are often the difference between a win and a loss. The Nuggets were lucky to escape with a win over the Miami Heat recently when Paul Millsap missed critical free throws in the waning moments of the game, which he eventually made up for when he drew a foul on a three point attempt and made the three free throws to give the team the lead.

This is not always going to happen and more often than not, the result of this particular situation would have been a heartbreaking loss. Denver is actually lucky to have a .500 record right now and they must start hitting their free throws if they want to have any chance at the post season.

Next: Recap: Warriors at Nuggets

This aspect of the game must be fixed and it must be improved sooner rather than later. Otherwise, it will come back to to bite them in the long run.

Home/Nuggets News