May 21
There are so many times when we talk about special situations in basketball. We talk about winning teams having to execute well at the end of the game. One of the crucial areas of the game -- and you don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure it out -- is the ability to make free throws.

	Dirk Nowitzki took advantage of the hacks he received in Game 1 against San Antonio.

Whether you are talking about high school, college or the pros, it is so vital to convert on the charity stripe. If you are a youngster learning how to play, here is a little advice: work on your free throw shooting. Practice, practice, practice, and don't be afraid to put pressure on yourself. We hear so many times about players pretending that they are on the line with the score tied and a couple of seconds left. Everyone wants to be the hero, coming through when the game is on the line.

When you are shooting outdoors and practicing, with the factors of the wind or the sun, shoot for quality and not quantity. How do you do that? Go out and say that you have to make seven in a row before you leave the park. If you don't do it, you turn and run a wind sprint until you get it done. Then go back and repeat it. Force yourself to perform in that pressure situation. Make believe it is a one-and-one and you have to make them both. Penalize yourself by running when you miss because it helps your conditioning and is a challenge mentally.

It also helps you develop stamina. Shooting free throws isn't easy and a lot of it depends on strength in your legs. Yes, your arms are important with your follow through, and concentration is a factor.

If you don't believe foul shooting is important, just ask Dallas Mavericks coach Don Nelson. His team missed its first free throw in game one of the Western Conference finals against San Antonio. Dallas went on to make its next 49 in a row en route to an upset of the Spurs. In a Maalox-masher, it made a difference since San Antonio was a disaster on the line.

You had to feel for Bruce Bowen since Nelson and company applied the Hack-a-Shaq philosophy against Bowen and put him on the line often in the second quarter. It made sense since it kept the ball out of Tim Duncan's hands, and he still scored 40 in the game.

It was ironic to see since Gregg Popovich was Nelson's assistant at Golden State, when the Hack-a-Shaq was often applied.

Bowen went five-for-10 for the game. That tactic could be applied again. Dirk Nowitzki went 17-of-17 from the line in that contest. We can talk about offensive execution, efficiency, making the extra pass and playing on the defensive end. But when a team knocks down 49 in a row, that sends a message to coaches on all levels -- you'd better work on the free throws, baby!

It all starts now -- do you hear me Shaq? -- and not just in September. It starts on the pavement in the playground, spending hours working on that facet of the game.

Speaking of Shaquille O'Neal ...

Phil Jackson was upset O'Neal failed to attend a season-ending meeting. Come on Shaq, you are supposed to be one of the team leaders, man!

You are supposed to set an example instead of playing the role of superstar and not showing up. You had more responsibilities and it is not just about the name on the back of the jersey. It's about the name on the front. Do you get it, Allen Iverson?