Afflalo makes up for lost shots

What better way for a basketball player to shift into a smooth and effective flow than by knocking down a jump shot or two and making his first couple of free throws?

For much of his career at UCLA, that’s the way it’s gone for Arron Afflalo. What starts well usually ends well too, and sometimes it has all looked so easy.

But not this year during the postseason.

When the Bruins were upset by California in the Pacific 10 Conference tournament, Afflalo missed his first two free throws and almost every other kind of shot in scoring only three points.

And again against Indiana in the second round of the NCAA tournament, the junior guard missed his first jump shot -- an open three-pointer -- and finished the game two-of-11 shooting.

In between, Afflalo had 22 points against Weber State, but his shooting slump can be traced to UCLA’s final regular-season game at Washington, when he was four-of-14 shooting -- with a couple of layups among his misses.

In UCLA’s last four games, Afflalo is shooting 31.9% (15 of 47) from the field and is six of 23 in three-point shots. His scoring average, which was almost 18 points a game this season, is 11.7.

But there is plenty of evidence that suggests Afflalo doesn’t need to lead the Bruins in scoring to lead them.

After the Indiana game, UCLA Coach Ben Howland complimented Afflalo’s leadership -- in particular, his decision to drive to the basket on consecutive possessions despite the presence of several bigger, bulkier Hoosiers in his path.

Both times Afflalo was treated like a ping-pong ball between paddles, bounced right and left. His lay-up attempts were crooked but twice he was fouled. He made four free throws and brought his teammates a boost of energy and the will to finish off the win in a game where UCLA had squandered a 16-point second-half lead.

“In that game, Arron really defended well,” Howland said. “No matter what, Arron always competes. He made those drives at the end, got fouled on both of them.

“During the course of the game he always continues to do little things to help us make plays. That’s what a leader does.”

Sophomore point guard Darren Collison said that he recognized Afflalo as a leader the first day he came to practice at UCLA.

“It’s not that Arron is loud and vocal,” Collison said, “but when you watched him practice, he was very professional. He works equally hard at every part of the game. He’s always working and the rest of us notice that. He doesn’t have to say, ‘Work harder,’ because we see Arron doing it.

“If he’s feeling bad about himself he doesn’t let his emotions trickle down to everybody. He’s never down on the team, either, just because he’s not going good.”

Josh Shipp, who has played with Afflalo since both were 8, said there wasn’t a time when Afflalo didn’t take the weight of the team on his shoulders.

“That’s his work ethic,” Shipp said. “He’s not the most vocal guy, but he always defended the toughest guy and other guys would feed off Arron’s defensive intensity. The thing about Arron is that he’s the same player now and does all the same things as he did then.”

Afflalo takes the game and his position in it seriously. There are few joking matters in Afflalo’s mind when UCLA basketball is involved. He can’t be cheered up by a one-liner after a UCLA loss and he was in tears after losses to Oregon and Stanford.

So it is no surprise that Afflalo is plotting his way out of this shooting slump, starting with the Bruins game Thursday at San Jose against Pittsburgh in an NCAA regional semifinal.

“I have to do a better job of driving the basketball,” he said. “Yes, I have been struggling with my shot a little bit at the close of the season. If my shot is not falling it’s up to me to find a way to score. I can’t rely on my jump shot all the time.”

That said, Afflalo prefers to look at his season-long scoring performance and not just one bad stretch.

“I have many things I can do,” he said, “so when I start missing, it’s probably better that I drive.

“Whatever the case, when I put the ball on the floor I’m helping someone else out.”

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