It’s DeAndre Jordan’s lucky day. Typically after practice concludes, Jordan continues his painful daily ritual of making 200 free throws. For a guy like Steve Nash that’s no big deal. Maybe an hour, tops. But for Jordan, a 36 percent career free throw shooter, that’s a pretty big chunk of the day.
This day, though, perhaps because interim Clippers coach Kim Hughes was a career 39 percent free throw shooter and empathizes with Jordan’s pain, they work on post moves. Bullet temporarily dodged.
As Hughes observes on the baseline, Jordan drops in a variety of left-handed baby hooks. When the natural southpaw switches to his right in an effort to be what Charles Shackleford would call “amphibious,” the results aren’t good.
The first attempt ricochets off the back iron. Perturbed, Jordan tries again from the same spot. Another miss. Now clearly irritated, Jordan softly floats a shot but watches in dismay as the ball dances around the rim before bouncing out.
Jordan incredulously stares at the hoop, almost as if it has offended him. He makes no effort to conceal his frustration. His massive shoulders slump, his gigantic hands flail at his sides and his eyes fixate on the ground in a manner that would make Charlie Brown look optimistic by comparison.
“I just really get into it,” Jordan said. “I get on myself because I know I can do better.”
It’s painfully obvious that Jordan is afflicted with a problem that has little to do with the proficiency of his right-handed hook shot. He loses confidence in himself far too easily.
It’s terrific stuff, and you can read the full piece here.
