This is the Hangover. This is where I get drunk on the NBA as I recap last night’s action as well as a few things going on around the league. Here’s your word vomit.
12/26/2016
THE GAMES
MIL 102 (14-15) @ WAS 107 (14-16)
MEM 102 (20-13) @ ORL 112 (15-18)
CHA 118 (17-14) @ BRK 120 (8-22)
CLE 90 (23-7) @ DET 106 (15-18)
IND 85 (15-17) @ CHI 90 (15-16)
DAL 104 (9-22) @ NO 111 (12-21)
PHX 115 (9-22) @ HOU 131 (23-9)
ATL 90 (15-16) @ MIN 104 (10-21)
TOR 95 (22-8) @ POR 91 (13-20)
DEN 106 (13-18) @ LAC 102 (22-11)
PHI 100 (7-23) @ SAC 102 (14-17)
THE RETURN OF THE UNDERHANDED FREETHROWS
So when was the last time someone shot underhanded foul shots in the NBA regularly? Probably Rick Barry. Barry played in the league until 1980. So it’s been a good while.
There was a time when Chris Andersen (when he didn’t have all that body art and when he wasn’t known as “Birdman” yet) did them “granny shots” because he had a fractured wrist.
(VIDEO CREDIT: BraddyD.)
But here’s a guy that has been shooting them regularly since he was in college at Louisville! Houston Rockets rookie Chinanu Onuaku started doing them at the advice of Coach Rick Pitino. He shot them in a conventional manner in his freshman year and shot .467. After he took Pitino’s advice, he improved to .589 in his sophomore year.
So Onuaku shot free throws for the first time in an NBA regular season game and here they were:
(VIDEO CREDIT: NBA.)
Two for two. It worked for him. Those guys that don’t shoot outside the paint and are bad free throw shooters should’ve shot them underhanded. Guys like Andre Drummond. DeAndre Jordan. Ben Wallace. Heck, Dwight Howard and Shaquille O’Neal.
Yeah, yeah. It looks “weak.” They’re “sissy.” It looks “stupid.” But they don’t look stupid if you make them. No matter the form, constantly missed free throws look stupid. I’m so glad Onuaku put his pride aside and worked on those unconventional foul shots.
I say you do whatever it takes to make them. Plus he stands out! I’m all for people standing out. And this is a good thing because he’s trying to improve his free throw shooting and it’s showing that he cares.
THE REST OF THE LEAGUE
As of late, we’ve been covering a lot of DeMarcus Cousins. This was a little more lighthearted, at least. He seems to have a fondness for Joel Embiid as they exchanged butt slaps!
Joel Embiid and DeMarcus Cousins slapping each other's butts. https://t.co/K3mNQJ7qRq
— Jake Hyman (@RealJakeHyman) December 27, 2016
Cousins also said…
Boogie had high praise for the 76ers Joel Embiid 😂. https://t.co/rZXt1gsPZY
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 27, 2016
Well then! By the way, the Kings have won four straight games. No one seems to be talking about that. They’re strengthening their grip on the 8th seed!
The Pistons actually won a game! They beat the Cavs, who played in an emotional game against the Warriors the day before. LeBron James also rested. But a win is a win for Detroit.
I love that Terrence Ross entertains people on breakaways.
(VIDEO CREDIT: NBA.)
So easy for him!
Paul George is not happy because they’re not getting many calls. He insinuated that the league is rigged. Those are just angry words. When you get frustrated, you’ll say stupid things. If he really did think it’s rigged, well, he shouldn’t be playing in the league he knows he can’t win. Why waste the time and energy, right?
And the Clippers lost their third straight without CP3 and Blake. Like I said, this is gonna be a tough stretch.
LINE CROSSER
(PHOTO CREDIT: Bob Levey/AP.)
James Harden helped the Rockets win again with this line:
32 points, 5 rebounds, 12 assists.
Dishes for everyone, including for Harden himself. He has to eat, too, ya know.
WATCH THIS PLAY
https://youtu.be/RFkV2BvZzbM
(VIDEO CREDIT: Ximo Pierto.)
Randy Foye made his only shot in this three that beat the Hornets.
Follow Rey-Rey on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass for all tweets about the NBA. Also, check out his podcast, Rey-Rey Is Fundamental.
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