3. Get to the free throw line and improve conversion rate
This is an area Waiters should feature in his game far more frequently.
Over his six years in the league, the 6’4″ Waiters has averaged just 2.7 free throw attempts per game, with last season coming in at 2.3 per game. In his 30 games last year, Waiters had 10 games in which he failed to get to the line at all despite averaging 14.7 drives per game, the highest return on the Heat roster.
One possible reasoning behind his lack of trips to the charity stripe has been his lack of conversion. For his career, the former Syracuse product has shot at just a 70.1 percent clip from the line, with his return last season coming in at a 73.9 percent return.
Furthermore, Waiters’ short game has been a scene of inconsistency throughout his time in the league. Last season, Waiters shot at a 26.3 percent clip between 5-9 feet from the rim on just 0.63 attempts per game, having shot at a 26.7 percent clip the previous season.
You only need to compare to this to a similar sized guard in Donovan Mitchell of the Utah Jazz. As a rookie last season, the 6’3″ Mitchell shot at a 40 percent clip between 5-9 feet, while converting at an 80.5 percent return from the free throw line.
Dion Waiters has airballed two layups in the first quarter. But.....he did yell 'and-1' on one of them.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) January 24, 2015
Additionally, over the course of the 2016-17 season, while he attempted 5.4 shots per game within five feet of the rim, Waiters converted at just a 49.2 percent clip. He raised his return last season to a 55.6 percent return, but it was on 4.4 attempts per game.
Given Waiters’ frequency in driving the lane, getting to and converting at a far more efficient rate from the free throw line should be one clear objective upon entering this season.