Quote Originally Posted by Nukem2 View Post
Really, thanks for the update. When time is short, making FTs and not having empty possessions is simply not measured by stats. A missed FT in the first minute may be as statistically valid as one with 0.5 seconds to go and the score is tied or down by 1. But, I think most can see that the latter is far more important with the game on the line. Call it cherry picking is you wish. Have a good day.

Every game flows differently. How things play out determines what was actually important in the outcome. Sure, one can say that better play earlier, etc. could be just as important. But, things happen and some plays (includingFTs) are simply more important and obviously are magnified. Stats really don't measure these subjectivities.

Right. If you are going to argue that during "crunch time" that pressure can be amplified and some players perform better, well sure. As you said the game isn't played on paper.

But the point is that if you hit your shots earlier, including your free throws, it may not come down to "crunch time." Hitting your FTs, your FGs, hell just about anything you do, is just as important early in the game as it is the end. That's not a statistical argument. That's just logic.

But the point remains, from a statistical point of view, FT% just isn't as important as other factors are in determining the outcome of a game.