Lakers forward Ron Artest is a career 72% shooter from the foul line, but he's shooting only 52.2% this season.

"He told me he doesn't shoot free throws well until somewhere in the second third of the season," coach Phil Jackson said. "So he's given up already on this first third of the season."

According to the Los Angeles Times, a shoulder injury last season forced Artest to alter his free-throw stroke.

"He's got this nasty hitch in his shot that we're trying to correct and he can't rid of it," Jackson said. "I've noticed a slight improvement."