The New York Knicks’ gritty 2024-25 playoff campaign faces an unexpected roadblock: Mitchell Robinson’s shockingly unreliable free throw shooting. While the 7-foot defensive anchor remains crucial to the team’s identity, his meltdown at the foul line has become a glaring weakness opponents ruthlessly exploit – especially in their tense Eastern Conference Semifinals showdown against the Boston Celtics.

The Numbers Don’t Lie
Robinson’s playoff free throw percentage has cratered to 26.9% (7-for-26) through three games against Boston, including a viral Game 3 airball that trended across social media. This collapse starkly contrasts his career-best 68.4% regular-season performance – a stat he meticulously built through daily practice sessions with high school mentor Butch Stockton, who temporarily relocated to New York to refine Robinson’s mechanics. The Celtics’ calculated “hack-a-Robinson” tactic, intentionally fouling him to derail offensive momentum, has turned his progress to dust under playoff pressure.

Beyond the Stat Sheet
The psychological warfare is unmistakable. Footage shows Robinson muttering to himself after missed attempts, while Madison Square Garden oscillates between supportive chants and frustrated groans. Teammate Jalen Brunson publicly advocates unity (“We win or lose together”), but coach Tom Thibodeau faces impossible choices. Removing Robinson sacrifices elite rim protection (1.2 blocks/game) and offensive rebounding (8.5/game), yet keeping him risks game-altering turnovers – a lose-lose scenario that sealed their Game 3 defeat.

Historical Parallels, Modern Stakes
Robinson’s plight echoes NBA legends like Shaquille O’Neal (career 52.7% FT shooter), but with a twist: his 2024 regular-season resurgence made this collapse unforeseeable. Analysts note his deteriorating form – flat arc, inconsistent release timing – yet Robinson rejects pragmatic fixes like the underhand “granny shot” or backboard banking techniques popular overseas. “I won’t sacrifice my pride for percentages,” he told reporters last week, prioritizing aesthetics over practicality.

The Path Forward
New York’s championship hopes hinge on balancing Robinson’s irreplaceable defense with his free throw liability. Advanced metrics reveal his +19 rating in their Game 2 win proves his value, but Boston’s blueprint for neutralizing him now hangs over the series. With the Celtics leading 2-1, solutions are urgent:

• Mental Reset: Sports psychologists suggest pre-shot routines to combat anxiety

• Strategic Substitutions: Timely bench rotations to avoid late-game fouling scenarios

• Mechanical Tweaks: Subtle elbow adjustments rather than complete overhauls

As Robinson himself declared earlier this season: “Growth isn’t linear.” The Knicks now desperately need their defensive cornerstone to turn that philosophy into redemption at the stripe.