A Royal Pain
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Should the Sacramento Kings Still Believe in Ben McLemore?

By Tyler Watts

Apr 2, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Sacramento Kings guard Ben McLemore (23) in the fourth quarter against the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 2, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Sacramento Kings guard Ben McLemore (23) in the fourth quarter against the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 28, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Sacramento Kings guard Ben McLemore (23) shoots the ball over New Orleans Pelicans forward Ryan Anderson (33) during the second half at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans won 114-105. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 28, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Sacramento Kings guard Ben McLemore (23) shoots the ball over New Orleans Pelicans forward Ryan Anderson (33) during the second half at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans won 114-105. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

McLemore’s Percentages Dropped

Ben McLemore gets knocked for shooting poor percentages and having an inconsistent jump shot.  The field goal percentage of 42.9% and 71.8% free throw percentage last year were down numbers, but did the injuries play a factor?  According to Fox Sports, McLemore had a sore back on January 5th, 2016 and a sore wrist on February 1st, 2016.  Were these injuries bothering him for a while before he admitted to them and throwing off his shooting?  Nobody really knows, but Mister McLemore himself.

My colleague Rafe Wong wrote a great piece describing McLemore’s shot further here if you care to read about it.  I’ll just mention a few shooting stats that if McLemore attacks these areas more his offensive effectiveness would tick up.  According to Basketball-Reference, he is a career 67.0% shooter from 0-2 feet from the basket, but he only takes 22.5% of his field goal attempts in that area.  On corner 3 pointers, he shoots a career 40.0% but only takes 33.8% of his 3 pointers from the corners.  The Kings need to find ways to let McLemore attack the basket more and shoot corner 3 pointers.

Next up: Still Young and Defense

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