Rick Barry Offers to Fix Mitchell Robinson’s Free Throw Woes

New York, NY — Rick Barry, the NBA Hall of Famer known for his distinctive underhand free throws, has made a bold proposal to New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson regarding his foul shooting difficulties. Barry expressed confidence that he could help Robinson improve his free throw percentage to 75% using the underhand technique.

In an interview with The Post, Barry stated, “It’s crazy. It’s so sad that guys are so bad and not proficient at the easiest part of the game — the only part of the game where nobody is trying to stop you from what you’re supposed to be doing.” He added, “Free throws are a critical part of the game. It’s sad. He’s definitely a candidate to me [to shoot underhanded]. He’s got to make a switch. You can’t be shooting 30, 40 percent.” Currently, Robinson is shooting only 29 percent from the line in the playoffs.

Robinson’s struggles have been exacerbated by Boston’s “Hack-a-Mitch” strategy, which has seen him often benched during games. In Saturday’s Game 3, he managed to convert four of his twelve free-throw attempts while still being a strong rebounding presence.

Both teams’ head coaches also discussed the importance of reducing turnovers to improve offensive efficiency. Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau said, “I think for anybody, live-ball turnovers that put you into the open floor, get you easy baskets.” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the need to avoid giving up easy transition opportunities.

The Knicks have seen success when their offense benefits from quick breaks after defensive stops. Guard Josh Hart described the importance of playing at a fast pace, noting, “We got guys that can make plays, guys that can shoot the ball, guys that can finish at the rim. We’re able to get out and get everybody easy shots, easy baskets and get everyone into the flow of things.” This style has generally characterized the team’s best moments in the series.

Meanwhile, Karl-Anthony Towns’ recent injury appears to be minor. He practiced fully on Sunday, following a hand injury suffered in Game 3. Towns, who finished with 21 points and 15 rebounds in that game, stated, “I just want to do whatever I can to be out there.” His 3-point shooting has been subpar in this series, with just one successful shot from beyond the arc.

As the series progresses, the Knicks aim to create more opportunities in transition, relying heavily on defensive efforts to drive their offense. Both coaches are focused on addressing these areas to boost their teams’ performance.