Free Throw % vs. Field Goal %

It's perhaps not surprising that a greater percentage of centers are to the left of the line (meaning they shoot better from the field than the free throw line) than guards/forwards. This is because a greater percentage of centers' shots compared to guards/forwards are from close range, and big men traditionally shoot worse from the free throw line.

As you move from center to forward to guard, the concentrations move further to the right of the line (meaning they shoot better from the free throw line than the field). If the y-axis represented effective field goal % (field goal percentage adjusted for fact that a made three pointer is worth more than a made two pointer) rather than regular field goal %, those guard and forward clusters would be shifted further to the right and up a bit.

So, what does all this mean: Perhaps Rajon Rondo should shoot jumpshots from the free-throw line ...

Data courtesy of basketball-reference.com