Knicks’ Playoff Strategy Centered on Robinson’s Free-Throw Issues

It was bound to happen eventually.

The strategy of intentionally fouling Mitchell Robinson has become a well-known tactic against the Knicks, especially given his struggles at the free-throw line. This was evident again in Saturday’s Game 1, where the Knicks triumphed over the Hawks with a score of 113-102 at Madison Square Garden.

Robinson contributed defensively in the first half, proving himself as a formidable rim protector. However, things shifted in the third quarter when the Hawks, down by seven points, began to foul him intentionally with 5:44 remaining.

Prior to his exit from the game, Robinson managed just 1-of-4 shooting from the charity stripe.

“We’re going to keep using him until we assess the game and decide if he should come off the bench,” manager Mike Brown explained. “We’ll make substitutions depending on how we feel about the game’s flow. But we want to give him every chance.”

Despite his ejection, the Knicks saw it as an opportunity. With 3:19 to go in the third quarter, they got an advantage with the Hawks’ fouls allowing for easier scoring chances at the free-throw line.

In a surprising move, Brown started Robinson in the fourth quarter, which prevented the Hawks from aggressively fouling without risking a full quarter of penalty shots for the Knicks.

“If they want to keep fouling, that just brings us closer to the bonus,” Brown noted. “So it’s time to revert back to him.”

Karl-Anthony Towns also had a moment during the game when his father, Karl Sr., attended for the first time since a medical procedure in late March. “Having him back here means everything to me,” Towns shared. “As a son, watching your dad support you while you play is just incredible.” He felt that seeing his father at such an important moment in his career brought special memories.