I don't have this game and never will. I just don't like the sport. The last basketball game I ever owned was CH2k8 (the only one in that series that I ever had) and before that it was NBA Live 97 (I think).

All of that said, I've ALWAYS felt that free throw shooting should be completely reliant on ratings. I wouldn't enjoy a game where I couldn't get the mechanic down and therefore couldn't shoot free throws. Conversely, I would hate to shoot 90%, or so, just because I mastered the mechanic. I'd rather have free throws be done for me (based on the player's ability) than have either of those outcomes.

Just my 2¢.