Slapping hands on free throws

[EddyP]

When did this become the norm in basketball? I don't have a problem with it, but I don't remember ever doing it when I was playing. I'm talking about a 2 shot free throw make or miss. I've watched the NBA playoffs and every team does it. College ball seems to do it too. Haven't noticed it in high school ball but maybe they do it too. Just an observation, but I don't remember seeing this until recently. And yes, it is that time of year to talk about things like this, just go with it.

 

[EddyP]

Whoa, I see my slapping hands thread has really taken off. Slow down fellas.

 

[Section136]

There was an article not too long ago in Sports Illustrated about when/how the high five started. I dont want to search for it.

 

[JailBreak81]

I guess I had just not really pondered it. It has been going on for awhile now, but I cannot say when it started.

This seems to be the article 136 mentioned.
The low five, the high 10, the low 10, - 03.15.10 - SI Vault
It talks about the hand slap at the free throw line a bit, but does not seem to talk about when it started.

 

[tweeterhawk]

Interesting. My thought was high-fiving might throw the shooter's rhythm/stance off, but at the D1 and NBA levels FT shooting habits should be set and not subject to minor or major disruptions. Also wonder if this is meant to counter-act the tendencies of defending players to cross the lane between FT attempts or to jaw, perhaps to disrupt the shooter's focus.

 

[EddyP]

Interesting. My thought was high-fiving might throw the shooter's rhythm/stance off, but at the D1 and NBA levels FT shooting habits should be set and not subject to minor or major disruptions. Also wonder if this is meant to counter-act the tendencies of defending players to cross the lane between FT attempts or to jaw, perhaps to disrupt the shooter's focus.

The weird thing to me is they do it even after a miss. Now maybe they do it because like you say it is a rhythm thing and you either do it all the time or you don't do it at all. It would annoy me.

 

[BradBanks02]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGFDF96hwTE]YouTube - ‪Most Awkward NBA Handshake Ever (Kevin Love/Wes Johnson)‬‏[/ame]

 

[DDHawkeye]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntJgaxsaIJk]YouTube - ‪NBA Gary Neal Air Low Five Failage‬‏[/ame]

 

[tweeterhawk]

^^^Funny stuff, BradBanks and DD.

 

[DuffMan]

Fell first of all the second video I think the dude was goofing, I don't think he was serious.

Secondly I can tell you that Iowa high school rules prohibit anything that delays the administration of free throws, including team high fives after shots. I don't know if the same rules exist in college and the NBA. It's possible there is no rule, and it's also possible there is a rule they just choose to not enforce it.

 

[ForeverHawk]

Unless they changed the rules since the late 80's when I played and the 90's when my brother played, hive fives were allowed in Iowa high school basketball. I never used my right hand as that was my shooting hand!

 

[Ikeasaurus]

I can remember this was commonplace when I played in the 90's as well.

 

[HawkinGoferLand]

It's been around for along time, but not all teams/players do it I suppose. I never did/still don't.

 

[smhawk]

Think there was an article in sports illustrated about correlation with nba teams success and teams that provide physicall reninforcement between patting on back, high fiving, huddling... etc.

Kind of silly study as most teams at the lower winning percentage arent usually in the mood for high fives.