20 bold predictions for the NBA's second half

20 bold predictions for the NBA’s second half

Feb 14, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Magic Johnson (left) speaks during a tribute to Western Conference forward Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers (right) prior to the start of the NBA All Star Game at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

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Oct 7, 2014; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond (0) takes free throw against the Chicago Bulls at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /

Andre Drummond’s free throw percentage will be lower than the 2015 MLB batting title

In 2015, Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera finished the season with a batting average of .338 through 119 games. Through 54 games for the 2015-16 season, Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond has shot 35.1% from the foul line.

Drummond has 28 games to drop 1.3% from his efficiency at the foul line – plenty of time. That will join him with another Motor City sports titan in Cabrera. While Cabrera has won the AL batting title in four of the past five seasons, Drummond is looking for his third straight free throw anti-title, finishing last in ’13-’14 (41.8%) and ’14-’15 (38.9%). Drummond would have won (lost?) in ’12-’13 with his 37.1% mark, but didn’t have enough attempts to qualify.

Even with all of these collective achievements, Miguel Cabrera has never matched up or surpassed Andre Drummond in terms of efficiency. This finally appears to be the year it happens. Cabrera’s .338 was unspectacular by his standards; Drummond has more than made up for it, continuing to make solid ball contact with the front of the rim even as the slog of the season continues.

The highlight for Drummond came on January 20, when the Pistons beat the Houston Rockets 123-114. Drummond missed an NBA-record 23 free throw attempts, a number which becomes even more fun when you realize that he had a better-than-average night at the line – he went 13-36, meaning he finished at 36.1% and a full percentage point above his season average.

As it stands right now, the rest of the NBA is better from 22-24 feet than Drummond is from 15 feet. At the All-Star Break, the NBA’s collective three-point percentage stands at 35.2%, outgunning Drummond by a mere tenth of a percent. Even Drummond is outgunning Drummond; he is shooting 40% from beyond the arc this season.

Andre Drummond is a rising star in this league, and by achieving this with Cabrera he can vault into legendary status with his Detroit sports peers. After this, the promised land is sub-30%, a mark that will make him the Ted Williams of bricking foul shots.

Next: MVP voting race

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