Mitchell Robinson, Knicks. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
The New York Knicks have been trying to keep the ship afloat with Mitchell Robinson out of the lineup. The team has suffered back-to-back painfully close losses to the two best teams in the Eastern Conference and now find themselves 1 game below .500, but still very much in the playoff picture. They have been notably shorthanded lately, with Elfrid Payton, Derrick Rose, Austin Rivers, and Mitchell Robinson all recently missing multiple games. Luckily for the Knicks, Robinson may be back in the lineup soon.
Tom Thibodeau announced that Robinson will resume practicing this week.
It may be a week or so before Robinson returns to actual NBA action, but it’s a good sign that he’s about to be back to practicing with contact. The Knicks have been able to take advantage of some weaker opponents and teams missing their star players, but they’ll need to up their game if they want to continue and make a playoff push.
Upon losing Mitchell Robinson, the Knicks have asked Nerlens Noel and Taj Gibson to play increased minutes in his absence. Noel has performed admirably, particularly as a rim protector, but there are clearly reasons as to why he doesn’t typically command a large role on an NBA team. There aren’t many teams who can plug and play someone to replace a starting center and suffer no dropoff in play, so it’s to be expected.
Even with Robinson’s improved play this season, his positive impact doesn’t always show up in the box score or gain as much recognition as it should. Make no mistake, Mitchell Robinson is a vital part of the Knicks’ success.
New York Knicks</a> have been trying to keep the ship afloat with Mitchell Robinson out of the lineup. The team has suffered back-to-back painfully close losses to the two best teams in the Eastern Conference and now find themselves 1 game below .500, but still very much in the playoff picture. They have been notably shorthanded lately, with Elfrid Payton, Derrick Rose, Austin Rivers, and Mitchell Robinson all recently missing multiple games. Luckily for the Knicks, Robinson may be back in the lineup soon.</p>
<p>Tom Thibodeau announced that Robinson will resume practicing this week.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Tom Thibodeau said Mitchell Robinson has progressed to being cleared for practice. He’ll be able to take contact in practice. That’s the next step to clear before for Robinson’s return to the court.</p>
<p>— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/03/18/knicks-mitchell-robinson-injury-impact-return/"https://twitter.com/IanBegley/status/1372018300163592192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>March 17, 2021</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>It may be a week or so before Robinson returns to actual NBA action, but it’s a good sign that he’s about to be back to practicing with contact. The Knicks have been able to take advantage of some weaker opponents and teams missing their star players, but they’ll need to up their game if they want to continue and make a playoff push.</p>
<p>Upon losing Mitchell Robinson, the Knicks have asked Nerlens Noel and Taj Gibson to play increased minutes in his absence. <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/03/18/knicks-mitchell-robinson-injury-impact-return/"https://dailyknicks.com/2021/02/17/nerlens-noels-defense-invaluable-knicks/">Noel has performed admirably</a>, particularly as a rim protector, but there are clearly reasons as to why he doesn’t typically command a large role on an NBA team. There aren’t many teams who can plug and play someone to replace a starting center and suffer no dropoff in play, so it’s to be expected.</p>
<p>Even with Robinson’s improved play this season, his positive impact doesn’t always show up in the box score or gain as much recognition as it should. Make no mistake, Mitchell Robinson is a vital part of the Knicks’ success.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/03/18/knicks-mitchell-robinson-injury-impact-return/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Robinson is a monster on the glass </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-116529" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/03/18/knicks-mitchell-robinson-injury-impact-return/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2134,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fdailyknicks.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1302523903.jpeg" alt="Knicks" width="3200" height="2134" srcset="https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1302523903.jpeg 3200w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1302523903-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Mitchell Robinson, Knicks. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>Knicks: Mitchell Robinson drains his opponents</h2>
<p>The physical tools have always been there for Robinson. 7 feet tall with a 7’4 wingspan and can jump out of the gym – The potential to dominate the paint has always been there, but it’s the added strength in 2020-21 that’s turned him into a workhorse under the hoop.</p>
<p>Prior to getting hurt, Robinson was leading the entire NBA in <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/03/18/knicks-mitchell-robinson-injury-impact-return/"https://www.nba.com/stats/players/box-outs/?sort=BOX_OUTS&dir=1%22 target="_blank" rel="noopener">box-outs per game.</a> His energy under Coach Tom Thibodeau has been relentless and it leads to a ton of 2nd chance opportunities for the Knicks. Before Robinson got injured, the Knicks were <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/03/18/knicks-mitchell-robinson-injury-impact-return/"https://www.nba.com/stats/teams/misc/?sort=PTS_2ND_CHANCE&dir=-1&Season=2020-21&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&DateFrom=10%2F1%2F2020&DateTo=2%2F12%2F2021%22 target="_blank" rel="noopener">10th in the league</a> in 2nd chance points per game. Since Robinson went down, they’ve been <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/03/18/knicks-mitchell-robinson-injury-impact-return/"https://www.nba.com/stats/teams/misc/?sort=OPP_PTS_2ND_CHANCE&dir=-1&Season=2020-21&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&DateFrom=2%2F13%2F2021&DateTo=3%2F17%2F2021%22 target="_blank" rel="noopener">19th in the league</a> in 2nd chance points.</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Mitchell Robinson did like 4 things in this play that he's never done in previous seasons <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/03/18/knicks-mitchell-robinson-injury-impact-return/"https://t.co/vwjUrZM1Mr">pic.twitter.com/vwjUrZM1Mr
<p>— Bootum (@DaRealBootum) <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/03/18/knicks-mitchell-robinson-injury-impact-return/"https://twitter.com/DaRealBootum/status/1340739705445486599?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>December 20, 2020</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>Robinson’s motor is what makes the Knicks, a team that’s already grueling to play against, even more of a physical challenge for opponents. We know Robinson is limited with the ball in his hands, but really, the Knicks don’t need him to be a dynamo on offense. He may show flashes of ball-handling from time to time, but he’s already such a force on the offensive glass that he’s really there to do the dirty work and let his teammates shine.</p>
<p>Robinson ranks <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/03/18/knicks-mitchell-robinson-injury-impact-return/"https://www.nba.com/stats/players/traditional/?sort=OREB&dir=-1%22 target="_blank" rel="noopener">6th in the NBA</a> in offensive rebounds per game. Just a few extra 2nd chance opportunities can make all the difference – Knicks fans should know this after losing 2 straight games by just a single possession. It’s not just about Robinson, it’s about having fill-ins Nerlens Noel and Taj Gibson playing smaller minutes – It’s clear they’ve been gassed on the court in many games.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/03/18/knicks-mitchell-robinson-injury-impact-return/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> How Robinson is one of the game's best defenders </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-116530" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/03/18/knicks-mitchell-robinson-injury-impact-return/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1067,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Fdailyknicks.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1300233318.jpeg" alt="Knicks" width="1600" height="1067" srcset="https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1300233318.jpeg 1600w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1300233318-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Mitchell Robinson, Knicks. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>Knicks: Mitchell Robinson is an elite defender</h2>
<p>Robinson’s impact goes just beyond 2nd chance points for his teammates. He’s already grown into one of the league’s dominant <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/03/18/knicks-mitchell-robinson-injury-impact-return/"https://dailyknicks.com/2021/02/06/knicks-mitchell-robinson-quietly-becoming-defensive-anchor/">defensive anchors</a>.</p>
<p>Nerlens Noel is a terrific rim protector, but he doesn’t have the same speed or athleticism to switch onto the perimeter that Robinson does. This isn’t to say Robinson is someone you just throw on any player to defend, but in those dire, shot-clock-winding-down situations where frantic rotations are happening, Robinson is one of the few centers in the league who can gobble up perimeter players.</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">What a defensive sequence by Mitchell Robinson <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/03/18/knicks-mitchell-robinson-injury-impact-return/"https://t.co/LPoeCOJy0N">pic.twitter.com/LPoeCOJy0N
<p>— The Strickland (@TheStrickland) <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/03/18/knicks-mitchell-robinson-injury-impact-return/"https://twitter.com/TheStrickland/status/1359304035053039623?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>February 10, 2021</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>Robinson has always been a prolific shot blocker, but under Tom Thibodeau, he’s blossomed into a true defensive anchor in the middle. Robinsons’ Defensive Real +/- (A Player’s estimated on-court impact on team performance, measured in net point differential per 100 on defensive possessions. Taking into account teammates, opponents, and additional factors.) <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/03/18/knicks-mitchell-robinson-injury-impact-return/"http://www.espn.com/nba/statistics/rpm/_/sort/DRPM" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ranks 6th</a> among all centers, and 12th in the entire NBA. He’s already one of the best in the NBA, with plenty of room to grow.</p>
<p>Robinson’s improved patience and understanding of where to be on the floor has really developed in his 3rd season. NBA fans have seen his ability to block 3-point attempts with his long arms and timing since his rookie season. The potential to be a consistent defender has always been there, but it has really been unlocked under the Knicks’ new coaching staff.</p>
<p>Having both Mitchell Robinson and Nerlens Noel in the lineup gives the Knicks a full big-man rotation of terrific rim protectors, something that not many teams in the league have. Robinson’s influence on his teammates should be felt immediately upon his return.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/03/18/knicks-mitchell-robinson-injury-impact-return/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Robinson's impact upon returning </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-116507" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/03/18/knicks-mitchell-robinson-injury-impact-return/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2160,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fdailyknicks.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1297717441.jpeg" alt="Knicks" width="3200" height="2160" srcset="https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1297717441.jpeg 3200w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1297717441-768x518.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Mitchell Robinson, Knicks. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>Mitchell Robinson should give the Knicks a big boost</h2>
<p>You have to love how hard this Knicks team has competed lately. Essentially, the team has had two healthy guards on their roster: Immanuel Quickley and Frank Ntilikina. Even with The Brooklyn Nets missing Kevin Durant and the Philadelphia 76ers missing Joel Embiid, those teams have still been winning a lot of games, and the Knicks were painstakingly close to beating them both.</p>
<p>Defensive rebounding is typically a strong area for the Knicks. It’s yet another category where Mitchell Robinson is missed. The Knicks gave up the <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/03/18/knicks-mitchell-robinson-injury-impact-return/"https://www.nba.com/stats/teams/misc/?sort=OPP_PTS_2ND_CHANCE&dir=-1&Season=2020-21&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&DateFrom=10%2F1%2F2020&DateTo=2%2F12%2F2021%22 target="_blank" rel="noopener">4th fewest 2nd chance points</a> in the league with Robinson in the lineup. Since he’s been gone? They’ve been 16th. He can absolutely dominate on the glass, and the attention he receives from opposing bigs has been directed elsewhere.</p>
<p>It’s these little things where Robinson’s skill set can be a direct result of a win or a loss. Shielding off opponents and allowing his teammates to grab more rebounds, exhausting opposing bigs, and being able to help out on just about any defensive assignment – He helps everyone on the roster succeed.</p>
<p>The Knicks’ current rotation of players has to be physically exhausted. As a result of the recent injuries, they’re all playing above their usual season averages of minutes. Mitchell Robinson will undoubtedly absorb a large chunk of minutes and ease the load for them.</p>
<p>The Knicks have been able to survive without Mitchell Robinson, but if they want to continue to make a big playoff push, they need their franchise center back and healthy. The team should be reenergized once he’s back in the lineup.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="New York Knicks: The Road To Respectability" data-url="https://dailyknicks.com/2021/03/17/new-york-knicks-road-respectability/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2021/03/18/knicks-mitchell-robinson-injury-impact-return/"https://dailyknicks.com/2021/03/17/new-york-knicks-road-respectability/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> New York Knicks: The Road To Respectability </a> </div>
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