Knicks make big change for Game 3 of Eastern Conference Finals

The New York Knicks are hoping a significant lineup change will help turn their misfortunes around in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Mitchell Robinson was inserted into the starting lineup for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Knicks and Indiana Pacers on Sunday night. Josh Hart, who started all 14 postseason games for New York, was sent to the bench.

The Knicks lost both Game 1 and Game 2 at home and trail the Pacers 2-0. Tom Thibodeau's team had a historic collapse in Game 1 and then failed to bounce back, which has them in a huge hole with Games 3 and Game 4 being held in Indiana.

Following his team's 114-109 loss in Game 2 on Friday night, Hart told reporters he believed the Knicks needed to find a way to get Robinson on the floor more. Robinson is now taking Hart's spot in the starting lineup.

Robinson played 29 minutes in Game 2, which was the most he has played in any postseason game this year. The 7-foot center finished with six points and a game-high nine rebounds. The Knicks were trailing by 10 when Robinson first entered the game in the first quarter and then immediately went on a 10-0 run, so his impact was obvious.

The Knicks do not have a deep bench, but Thibodeau is hoping a starting lineup change will help provide a spark.

The big issue with Robinson is that he is a horrific free-throw shooter. We have seen some truly mind-blowing misses from him at the line during the playoffs. Robinson has made just 38.5% of his free throws in 14 postseason games.

The free-throw shooting makes Robinson a liability, especially late in games. That is something Thibodeau will have to navigate, but the benefit of having the big body on the floor more might outweigh any "hack-a-Mitchell" strategy that the Pacers try to employ.