KG is Getting to the Line Less

Perkisabeast.com has the scoop:

By and large, KG’s averages are below his career marks so far this season. He’s averaging 16 points a contest (-2.5 ppg from 07′ and -4 career), 9.6 rebounds (+.4 from 07′ and -1.6 rpg career), 2.5 assists (-.9 from 07′ and -1.9 career). While some of this is skewed by playing time, Garnett is playing fewer minutes this year (32 a game) than any in his career besides last year and his rookie season. However, one glaring deficiency in his game this year has me wondering if something more is afoot.

So far, Garnett has taken a paltry 59 free throws from the charity stripe this year. That’s an average of 2.45 a game, the fewest he’s averaged since he was still wet behind the ears. Last year, he averaged just over 4 per game. This means he’s on pace for only 200 free throws this year, which is not superstar caliber to say the least. By comparison, Paul Pierce has already attempted 194 free throws this season, and Perkins, Rondo, Ray Allen, Tony Allen and Leon Powe have all gone to the line more often than Garnett.

Perkisabeast reasons that Garnett may have become too reliant on his mid-range jumpshot. But a look at 82games. com reveals that 73% of KG’s shot attempts have been jumpshots. That percentage is identical to Garnett’s 2007-2008 season when KG got to the line 4.7 times a game.

As Perk points out, it could be a fatigue or officiating issue, or it could be symptom of a much larger problem. Marc J. Spears of The Boston Globe reported that Garnett switched to a larger knee brace recently and doesn’t “seem to be moving as smoothly on the floor.” Celtics officials insist it’s the same brace, just a different color. Red’s Army knows better.

The Celtics aren’t dependent on Garnett’s ability to get to the stripe. But his shot selection and mobility are worth keeping an eye on as the season progresses.