If this had been the beginning of the NBA season, reinserting Mitchell Robinson into the beginning lineup alongside Karl-Anthony Cities can be a no brainer.
Nevertheless it’s not October. The Knicks simply performed their 58th sport of the season, and throwing Robinson into the deep finish after almost 10 months away from the court docket can be reckless.
This isn’t about expertise — it’s about warning.
Robinson has not performed since Might 6, when he suffered a second stress fracture in his left ankle, an harm that required a second surgical procedure in the identical season. The Knicks have been affected person in his restoration, pushing his anticipated return from December to January, then from January into late February. That very same endurance wants to use now.
Beginning him instantly can be a mistake.
The Knicks must ease their lone rim protector again into the movement — not simply when it comes to minutes, but in addition when it comes to accountability. He ought to reintroduce himself to sport pace towards second items, the place the bodily calls for are decrease and the margin for error is wider.
Had he been wholesome at coaching camp, he’d be leaping at middle court docket on opening night time. However circumstances have modified, and so ought to the method.
“Well, going into the season, that’s what it was [Mitch starting at center],” head coach Tom Thibodeau mentioned forward of tip-off on Wednesday. “At this point, we don’t know what it is. We don’t know what his conditioning is like. We don’t know what the minutes restrictions will be. There’s a lot of variables with that. Anything he can give us will be a big plus.”
The temptation to start out him straight away is comprehensible: The Knicks’ protection has collapsed in his absence.
Opponents are waltzing into the paint with little resistance, forcing New York’s protection into scramble mode and producing clear three-point appears to be like. The Knicks already battle to defend the perimeter — rating dead-last in opponent three-point proportion — and the shortage of a real paint presence is just amplifying that weak point.
Robinson’s return is the best repair for that.
When the paint is protected, groups don’t get as many open threes. However his return may additionally deal with one other evident subject: fatigue.
Even when he comes off the bench, having Robinson and Cities collectively permits the Knicks to raised stagger their rotation.
Proper now, the starters are shouldering an unsustainable load.
Coming into Wednesday’s sport towards the 76ers, Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart ranked first and second within the NBA in minutes per sport, OG Anunoby was twelfth, and each Jalen Brunson and Cities cracked the top-25.
If Robinson begins down the street, Hart doubtless strikes to the second unit — giving the Knicks’ bench a much-needed infusion of measurement and scoring.
“Mitch was projected to be the starting center on our team. So we’ve gone 50-something games without our starting center. Guys have done a really good job stepping in,” Thibodeau mentioned after apply on Tuesday. “Mitch is an elite pick-and-roll defender, an elite rim protector, an elite offensive rebounder. Those are things that are critical.”
Whether or not he begins or comes off the bench, one factor is definite: Robinson’s return is imminent.
The progress has been simple. The times of him avoiding weight on his left foot are over. Pool and anti-gravity exercises are previously, too.
Robinson is a full participant in apply with contact, and now, the Knicks are monitoring how his foot responds day-to-day. If he continues to get up pain-free, his return is simply across the nook.
“He’s doing well overall,” Thibodeau mentioned when requested about Robinson’s restoration.
The Knicks are lastly getting one in every of their largest items again. The true problem? Ensuring he stays on the board for the remainder of the season, which is greatest completed by not overloading him on Day 1 again on the workplace.
