Playing for the Golden State Warriors includes many perks. Perhaps chief among them? Role players like Festus Ezeli getting easy opportunities to score due to the defense’s attention to Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green. But getting a good look isn’t enough for Golden State’s ancillary players when fouled; they have to capitalize at the free-throw line to take full advantage of their star teammates’ threat.
Ezeli did just that on Wednesday night against the Trail Blazers, making four consecutive free throws late in the second quarter after Curry found him under the basket. That perfect showing, however, doesn’t tell the whole story of the hulking center’s trips to the stripe.
Included among Ezeli’s successful tries wasn’t just this wild, pin-balling make, but also a straight-up bank shot that was so bad it looked completely intentional. Not that Steve Kerr and company are complaining, of course. Golden State will take any point at the line it can get from Ezeli, a 53 percent foul shooter.