Extinction of the Underhand Free Throw and Straight-On Field Goal [VIDEO]

While we wait for Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers, I thought about a former Warrior who shot underhanded free throws.

Rick Barry's .900 career free throw percentage was tops in the league all-time at the time of his retirement. Why didn't this catch on?

I used to shoot one-handed in Freshman basketball practice. Then one day my coach told me if I tried one of those in a game, it would be "grab some bench." I did and I did.

Another relic of the past is the straight-on field goal. Those guys were pretty accurate too. In fact, one year a "straight-on'er" took home the league MVP award: Mark Mosley.

..wonder if he teaches all those sidewinders at his kicking camps his old straight-on method. Soccer-style kickers became the norm after they proved that their style added accuracy and distance. Along with the underhand free throw, the straight-on kickers are nothing more than a distant memory now. Maybe James and Curry should try one this weekend on the 40th anniversary of Barry's Warriors 1975 conquests.