Missed Free Throws: Don’t Settle for the Easy Excuses

Game 1 of the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals delivered an instant playoff classic, as the Indiana Pacers pulled off a historic comeback to defeat the New York Knicks 138–135 in overtime. The Knicks led by 14 points with under three minutes left in regulation—a lead that, statistically, should have been virtually insurmountable.

According to win probability models, New York had a greater than 99% chance of victory with less than three minutes to go. But improbably, the Pacers stormed back, led in part by a record-breaking shooting night from Aaron Nesmith, who hit a career-high eight three-pointers—including several in the final minutes that erased the deficit and swung momentum.

The collapse was sudden, stunning, and for some, easy to explain: ESPN's Stephen A. Smith and Chris Canty both pointed to missed free throws as the reason for the Knicks' loss, echoing a popular sentiment: They missed their free throws.

Indeed, Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby each went 1-for-2 at the line in the closing seconds of the fourth quarter. Anunoby’s miss with 7.3 seconds left in regulation kept the door open for Indiana to tie the game.

Here’s the issue, though: while the Knicks shot a poor 70% from the line (28-of-40), the Pacers weren’t flawless either, finishing 21-of-28 for 75%. The Knicks did miss more total free throws, but it oversimplifies the story to say that's why they lost. And more importantly, both teams had chances to win despite the missed shots. The Pacers simply executed better when it mattered most.

The Knicks didn’t lose because of missed free throws. They lost because they turned the ball over 15 times. They lost because they gave up a perfect 6-for-6 shooting run to Indiana in the final stretch. They lost because they mismanaged defensive assignments and left Aaron Nesmith open—repeatedly. The Pacers stayed poised while the Knicks unraveled.

In other words: Saying that the Knicks lost because of poor free throw shooting is simplifying the loss.

What really happened was a breakdown across multiple dimensions—defense, ball control, late-game execution, and yes, some missed free throws. But pinning everything on one statistic ignores the larger narrative. And that kind of oversimplification shows up in more places than just sports analysis.

Don’t Be the Bar Examinee Who Blames the Free Throws

That complexity holds a lesson for anyone preparing for the bar exam.

Too often, examinees underperform on practice tests and latch onto the first available excuse:

• "I ran out of time."

• "I didn’t see that issue."

• "That was a hard question."

Like blaming free throws, these responses focus on the obvious—and sometimes, the superficial.

Real improvement requires real analysis. Ask yourself:

• Did I misread the call of the question?

• Did I fail to issue spot because my outline is incomplete?

• Did I not internalize black-letter rules because I’m not actively reviewing?

• Did I mismanage my time because I’m not practicing under timed conditions?

If you don’t dig deeper into the causes of your mistakes, you’ll keep making them.

Before diving into specific strategies, it’s worth acknowledging something important: improvement doesn’t come from general encouragement—it comes from disciplined action. Many students nod along when told to "practice more" or "study smarter," but unless those ideas are broken down into concrete steps, they rarely lead to meaningful change. If you want better bar exam results, you need a better process.

Here’s how to start building one:

1. Review Your Process, Not Just Your Results: Don’t just look at whether you got the answer right or wrong—analyze how you got there. Did you read the fact pattern carefully? Did you write an outline before diving in? Did you manage your time? Understanding your process will show you where your habits need adjusting.

   
   

2. Track Patterns: Keep a running list of common errors. Are you missing negligence issues repeatedly? Are hearsay exceptions tripping you up? Do you always run out of time with one essay left? Patterns reveal blind spots, and you can’t fix what you haven’t identified.

   
   

3. Use Timed Practice: You can’t improve your pacing without simulating real conditions. Set a timer and complete full sections of MBEs, essays, or MPTs under actual test-day conditions. Start small if you need to—10 questions in 18 minutes—and build up. Treat these sessions as rehearsals.

   
   

4. Self-Assess After Every Attempt: After every practice session, take a moment to reflect. What did you do well? Where did you stumble? Write down your insights. This reflection transforms each practice test from an isolated event into a learning experience.

   
   

5. Stop Making Excuses: Excuses feel good in the short term, but they keep you from growth. Instead of saying, "That question was unfair," ask, "How can I be better prepared for the next one?" Accept responsibility for your prep. Empower yourself to change it.

Missed free throws didn’t cost the Knicks the game. A series of missteps by the Knicks did.

Don’t settle for the easy excuse. Ask the harder questions. That’s where the learning happens.