INDIANAPOLIS — Don’t look now.
The choice to maneuver Mitchell Robinson into the beginning lineup has shifted momentum within the Knicks’ favor of their Jap Convention Finals matchup in opposition to the Indiana Pacers.
After dropping the primary two video games of the collection — each at house in entrance of the Madison Sq. Backyard trustworthy — the Knicks pulled the plug on a beginning 5 that had been routinely outscored in the course of the playoffs. Since bumping Robinson into the primary unit and bringing Josh Hart off the bench, New York is 2-1, with an opportunity to tie the collection at three apiece and power a decisive Sport 7 again at The Backyard on Monday.
What’s modified? Begin with the plain: Robinson and Karl-Anthony Cities give the Knicks twin seven-footers — a transparent dimension benefit in opposition to the smaller Pacers.
“Obviously having another seven-footer in there to just wreak havoc, and then the presence he has on both sides of the ball,” staff captain Jalen Brunson mentioned after shootaround at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Saturday morning. “It helps our team a lot. He just helps us a lot in that aspect, and we’re very happy he’s been able to contribute the way he’s done.”
Robinson’s presence has additionally unlocked the Knicks’ perimeter protection, permitting guards to strain the ball with extra freedom, understanding there’s a security web behind them.
“Whenever you know that Mitch is by the rim or even on the court, you know he’s always lurking around,” Brunson mentioned. “So it definitely gets us to go out there and pressure the ball and try to disrupt on the perimeter just knowing the help we have back there.”
That defensive influence is what’s earned Robinson his beginning spot — nevertheless it’s not the one factor he brings. Earlier than an ankle harm derailed his season final yr, Robinson was on tempo for a historic offensive rebounding marketing campaign and was extensively thought of the league’s greatest on the glass.
“I still am,” he mentioned after Saturday morning shootaround. “I average what? Like four or five?”
Robinson understands his function. The Knicks’ new-look beginning 5 has logged 37 minutes collectively in Video games 3–5 and outscored Indiana by 16.3 factors per 100 possessions in that stretch. For comparability, the unique starters held a minus-15.7 web ranking throughout the primary 5 video games and have been outscored by a staggering 42.9 factors per 100 possessions in Video games 1 and a pair of alone.
“I’m like the last line of defense right there,” Robinson mentioned. “When they have that trust in me that I’m back there protecting the rim, that just helps them get more aggressive on the ball, and it helps us out a lot, so you know, I’mma be there.”
Within the convention finals, Robinson is averaging 5 factors, seven rebounds, 1.4 blocks and 0.8 steals.
“I’m just happy he’s healthy and playing at that level,” mentioned Brunson. “I feel like when you come into the league and you’re good at something, and you continue to grow and it becomes more of an instinct, so obviously he was known as a defensive specialist coming into the league. And then he’s still that if not way better, but when you grow and you learn and when you have the experience, you tend to become better.”
He’s additionally the Knicks’ longest-tenured participant — and eventually seeing the fruits of the staff’s gradual construct.
“Seeing it all. Yeah, I mean, it’s been amazing. Nice journey from 17 wins to 50,” Robinson mentioned. “Been here for a while, so now, it’s like finally just coming together.”
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In Sport 5, Mikal Bridges guarded Tyrese Haliburton the complete 94 toes of the ground. And after torching the Knicks for 32 factors, 15 assists, 12 rebounds and 0 turnovers in Sport 4, Haliburton adopted it up with simply eight factors and 6 assists in a 17-point Knicks blowout.
“It’s a contagious feeling. When you see something like that and you see one of your teammates picking up and playing as hard as [Mikal] is, that’s contagious. So that’s one thing it does,” Brunson mentioned Saturday. “Obviously Tyrese is a hell of a player and we have to figure out ways to slow him down, so when you see Mikal doing stuff like that or anyone picking him up full court, we just know we’ve gotta obviously give it our all in each and every possession.”
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The Knicks battled by way of a brutal first-round collection in opposition to the Detroit Pistons, eradicated the reigning champion Celtics in Spherical 2, and now have an opportunity to power Sport 7 after falling behind 2-0 and 3-1 in opposition to Indiana. In response to Brunson, the volatility of this playoff run has solely strengthened their bond.
“It’s helped out a lot. You can’t really get experience without getting experience,” he mentioned. “It brought us together. I think for the most part, we see a lot, we hear a lot, but we make sure we’re on the same page together. So regardless of what anyone else says, we’ve got each other’s back.”
