McLeod hitting his free throws!!
Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2006 10:08 am
McLeod makes a name from free-throw line
Ike Diogu. Baron Davis. Mike Dunleavy. Monta Ellis. All tried and failed as the designated technical free-throw shooters for Warriors Coach Don Nelson this season.
So, into the breach stepped reserve guard Keith McLeod. Even though he's averaging fewer than 15 minutes per game, he has become Nelson's first choice on technicals by virtue of a nearly spotless record at the line. Entering Friday, McLeod had made 39 of 41 attempts, or 95.1 percent.
``He's nearly automatic,'' assistant coach Keith Smart said. ``When it's something you know you do real well, it doesn't matter if you have game flow or if you haven't played in a while. He's got the confidence.''
The last Warrior to lead the league in free-throw shooting was Mark Price, in 1997 during his only season in Golden State, with a mark of 90.6 percent.
McLeod has a higher percentage than the NBA's official leader, Steve Francis of New York, who is shooting 93.5 percent. But McLeod has not made enough free throws to qualify for the top spot.
``I think it's a matter of focus,'' said McLeod, who would not delve too deeply into the reasons for his success. ``If I think about it too much, then I might start to miss.''
Nelson said in training camp that he and shooting coach Hal Wissel were the only people authorized to give foul-shooting advice, so McLeod has made sure to keep any commentary on teammates' form to himself.
``I try not to get involved in that,'' McLeod said. ``I'm no specialist.''
All evidence to the contrary.
• Forward Troy Murphy (left Achilles) sat out along with guards Anthony Roberson (sprained left big toe) and Monta Ellis (right shoulder contusion) and forward Zarko Cabarkapa (back surgery), but Murphy might be available to play tonight in Sacramento.
-- GEOFF LEPPER, MEDIANEWS
Ike Diogu. Baron Davis. Mike Dunleavy. Monta Ellis. All tried and failed as the designated technical free-throw shooters for Warriors Coach Don Nelson this season.
So, into the breach stepped reserve guard Keith McLeod. Even though he's averaging fewer than 15 minutes per game, he has become Nelson's first choice on technicals by virtue of a nearly spotless record at the line. Entering Friday, McLeod had made 39 of 41 attempts, or 95.1 percent.
``He's nearly automatic,'' assistant coach Keith Smart said. ``When it's something you know you do real well, it doesn't matter if you have game flow or if you haven't played in a while. He's got the confidence.''
The last Warrior to lead the league in free-throw shooting was Mark Price, in 1997 during his only season in Golden State, with a mark of 90.6 percent.
McLeod has a higher percentage than the NBA's official leader, Steve Francis of New York, who is shooting 93.5 percent. But McLeod has not made enough free throws to qualify for the top spot.
``I think it's a matter of focus,'' said McLeod, who would not delve too deeply into the reasons for his success. ``If I think about it too much, then I might start to miss.''
Nelson said in training camp that he and shooting coach Hal Wissel were the only people authorized to give foul-shooting advice, so McLeod has made sure to keep any commentary on teammates' form to himself.
``I try not to get involved in that,'' McLeod said. ``I'm no specialist.''
All evidence to the contrary.
• Forward Troy Murphy (left Achilles) sat out along with guards Anthony Roberson (sprained left big toe) and Monta Ellis (right shoulder contusion) and forward Zarko Cabarkapa (back surgery), but Murphy might be available to play tonight in Sacramento.
-- GEOFF LEPPER, MEDIANEWS
