Note to Danilo Gallinari: kindly stop drawing so many free throws. Please, more buckets instead.
Aesthetics are a huge part of basketball. Michael Jordan was beloved not only because of his ability to score a ton, but also because of the grace with which he did so. Jumpshots have an inherent beauty to them, making their magnificent bow across the sky over the outstretched arms of defenders.
Free throws have no aesthetics. There is no tension, no anticipation. Just a guy standing by himself shooting stationary, might as well be in an empty gym. Never mind how they break up the pace of the game. They are a necessity, but that doesn’t mean that Danilo has to be like a James Harden, fishing for foul calls.