Spurs Poor Free Throw Shooting Proves Costly

I haven't  been watching Spurs basketball games on a consistent basis this season, but since it is now January, and the Spurs season usually "begins" in January, I will be following them quite closely from this point forward 

After watching the Spurs play the Toronto Raptors Sunday night, it appears to me that the difference in the game was simply free throw shooting. If the Spurs made their free throws, they would have earned their 21st win of the season, period.

Let's take a closer look at the Stats:

Spurs FTM/A: 16-27 (11 missed points)

Tim Duncan FTM/A: 5-9 (4 missed points)

Tony Parker FTM/A: 4-9 (5 missed points)

DeJuan Blair FTM/A: 0-2 (2 missed points)

On the other hand, the Toronto Raptors shot their free throws quite well on Sunday. They shot 24 for 27, an 88.9% free throw percentage.

Clearly, Spurs free throw shooting on Sunday proved costly, and they lost the game due to this.

If the Spurs have hope to win close games the rest of the season, they must address free throw shooting.

The "Big Fundamental," Tim Duncan, should practice free throw shooting often, as this fundamental basketball skill or lack therof, can be the difference between wins and losses.

Tony Parker seems to have similar chronic free throw shooting issues. I don't know how a player who is paid multi-millions of dollars per year can consistently miss crucial free throws such as on Sunday against the Raptors.

I look forward to watching the Spurs the rest of the season, and I will be analyzing their free throw shooting quite closely.

Stats don't lie.