The three players with the most free throw attempts so far in the NBA playoffs are all in the same series — James Harden, Dwight Howard and DeAndre Jordan are each averaging more than ten trips to the line per game. That kind of stat pisses off Chicago Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau. (Not the mention the Rockets Kevin McHale!) Because Thibodeau believes attack-mode Derrick Rose ought to be going to the line frequently too. Returning home to Chicago after a 1-1 split in Cleveland, you can expect Rose to get some free throws — probably even if Cleveland continues to do a good job not fouling him.
Rose has been awarded just 19 free throws in the entire post-season so far, despite driving to the basket nearly ten times a game. That’s fewer free throws than Harden and Howard get in a single Rockets game. Rose has been to the line exactly zero times in two games against the Cavs. Which, once again, might just be because Derrick Rose isn’t getting fouled. But the referees will be aware of this anomaly (zero?), and they’re only human.
