Every weekday morning throughout the season, ESPNNewYork.com will tackle a burning question about the Knicks in our "Opening Tip" segment.

Today's Burning Question: How troubling is the Knicks' recent free throw situation?

Very troubling.

Last season, the Knicks shot 80.9 percent from the foul line, which was second-best in the league after the Thunder (82.3 percent).

This season, the Knicks are down to 75.2 percent, which ranks 15th in the league.


But in the last month, they've plummeted even further to 69.8 percent -- third-worst in the league. In Tuesday night's 95-85 loss, they shot 15-for-23 (65.2 percent) from the charity stripe, while the victorious Mavericks were 26-for-30 (86.7 percent).

Much of the offensive focus has centered on the first unit needing to find a rhythm, specifically between Jeremy Lin, Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire. But how about the entire team finding a rhythm from a completely uncontested spot on the court? That hasn't happened recently.

First of all, for all the global attention Linsanity is getting, that means he should just be as effective against defenders versus without defenders. But he hasn't been. While he's shooting a respectable 45.8 percent from the field, his free throw percentage is 75.4 -- one of the worst marks for a starting point guard guard in the league.

Only one noteworthy player at Lin's position, Rajon Rondo, shoots a far worse percentage from the foul line (58.9 percent), but he makes up for it in a whole lot of other ways on the court. Exhibit A: The Knicks-Celtics game on Sunday.

Lin's backcourt teammate Landry Fields has completely lost his free-throw touch. Last season, he shot a decent 76.9 percent. In the last month? Just 54.5 -- as bad as Shaquille O'Neal used to shoot.

But the most disappointing free throw shooter in the starting lineup, considering his value to the team and increased attempts at the stripe, is Anthony. Last season, he shot 87.2 percent from the line, but in the last month he's dropped to 72.4.

Against the Mavericks last night, Anthony had another poor shooting performance (2-for-12). But he was also 2-for-4 from the charity stripe. Previous talk that wondered whether his right wrist was hurting has made a comeback. With Melo not shooting well at the line, that puts his injury into more of the spotlight because his misses there have nothing to do with him adjusting to Lin and the new offense.

On the plus side, Anthony's star teammate, Stoudemire, is shooting 80.5 percent from the line.

Off the bench, there's also a concern because right now only Iman Shumpert is connecting on his free throws (84.9 percent). J.R. Smith is the second unit's second-best option at drawing fouls, but since he joined the team last month, he's only made half of his free throws (9-for-18). Smith usually shoots 70 percent from the line.

As any basketball player knows, missing a free throw is one of the most frustrating things you can do in a game because you have all day to shoot the best shot you'll take on the court. The Knicks looked like a frustrated bunch on Tuesday, especially Anthony, who stormed out of the locker room quickly before returning to talk to reporters.

If the Knicks can button up their free throws, they'll be able to put one key piece in place, as they're trying to solve a complicated, yet talented, puzzle: their revamped roster.

What are your thoughts on the Knicks' recent free throw situation? Leave us your comments below.

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