The Capital Sin of a 'Reborn' Barça: The Alarming Free Throw Problem

Barcelona's recent victories may have given their fans hope for a successful season, but there is a significant issue that plagues Roger Grimau's team – their performance in free throws. Despite their overall triumph against Monbus Obradoiro, the free throw problem resurfaced during the game, highlighting a concerning trend for the Blaugrana.

During the match against Obradoiro, Barça missed a staggering 22 free throws, only converting 20 out of 35 attempts, resulting in a dismal 57% shooting percentage. This struggle with free throws continued throughout the game, proving to be a headache for the team. Willy Hernangómez, while having an impressive performance overall, fell victim to this issue, shooting 7 out of 13 (53%) from the free-throw line.

Laprovittola, another key player for Barcelona, also struggled, converting only 2 out of 6 free throws (33%), including missing three crucial shots in the last minute of the regulation time – a mistake that forced the game into overtime. However, Laprovittola made up for his poor free throw performance with his successful long-distance shooting.

This struggle with free throws is not an isolated incident but rather a persistent problem for Barcelona. At the moment, the team holds the undesirable distinction of having the worst free throw percentage in both the Endesa League and the Euroleague. In the domestic competition, they occupy the 18th position, shooting a dismal 68.5% from the free-throw line, despite excelling in three-point shooting.

The situation is not much better in Europe, as Barcelona stands at the bottom of the Euroleague rankings, tied with Panathinaikos, shooting 74% from free throws. Although this is an improvement from their domestic records, it falls short of expectations for a team aspiring to compete in the Final Four.

If Barcelona wishes to contend for titles this season, they must urgently address this critical aspect of their game. In decisive moments, every point counts dearly, making confidence and proficiency in free throws essential for their success. While their start to 2024 has been promising, they must not overlook this pressing issue if they want to fulfill their potential as a 'reborn' team.