Mitchell Robinson did not make his typical impact at each ends of the court within the Knicks’ successive road losses over the weekend, coping with foul trouble in each Milwaukee and Cleveland.
Robinson totaled only 41 minutes while picking up five fouls in each of the 2 games, scoring five points in 20 minutes Friday night’s loss against the Bucks and 4 in 21 minutes in Sunday’s loss to Donovan Mitchell and the Cavaliers that leveled the Knicks’ overall record to 3-3.
Robinson, who signed a four-year contract value $60 million within the offseason, hasn’t fouled out in any of the Knicks’ six games. But he’s been assessed five fouls in three of them, also including the team’s season-opening extra time loss in Memphis.
Thus, his five-foul games have occurred in each of the Knicks’ three losses, with the 7-foot center averaging 4.3 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.3 blocked shots in only 18 minutes per game.
Within the Knicks’ three wins against the Pistons, the Magic and the Hornets, Robinson has posted 10.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and three.7 blocks over half-hour per game.
The early-season foul issues have led to Robinson playing fewer minutes overall through six games than versatile backup center Isaiah Hartenstein. The free-agent signing has recorded 9.2 points and eight.0 rebounds in 25 minutes per appearance. He has been amongst the important thing reasons the Knicks ranked second within the NBA through Sunday’s motion in bench scoring with 44.5 points per game.
“He’s been terrific. We knew he could be,” Tom Thibodeau said Sunday of Hartenstein, who signed a two-year contract value $16 million as a free agent in July. “He gives you rim protection. He can shoot, he can pass. I assumed our bench played very well [in Cleveland], particularly in the primary half, form of got us going, but then obviously we didn’t play well down the stretch.”
The Knicks, who will face Atlanta at home on Wednesday, led Sunday’s game by nine points through three quarters, but they were outscored 37-15 over the ultimate 12 minutes. Robinson and Julius Randle checked into the sport for Hartenstein and Obi Toppin with the Knicks still clinging to a 99-98 lead with 7:25 remaining, but Cleveland closed out the sport with a 21-7 run over the ultimate 5:20.
After opening the season by hitting 15 of his first 17 field-goal attempts (88.2 percent) in the course of the Knicks’ 3-1 start, Robinson connected on just 4-for-11 from the ground (36.4 percent) in the course of the winless two-game trip.
Before Friday’ loss to the Bucks, Thibodeau had praised the 24-year-old Robinson’s mindset and improved health after steadily working his way back last season from a foot injury suffered in 2020.
“I believe he’s grown. I believe this summer was very productive, and the autumn was very productive. And his health, I believe, was the large thing,” Thibodeau said. “He’s put lots of work in. He gets there early. He’s staying late. He’s studying. But I believe it’s all been a process for him coming into the league really with no college background, after which just constructing and learning through his experiences.
“I believe, usually, the large thing is he was all the time in a position to get by along with his athleticism. Obviously, it’s an important attribute. I believe now he has a clearer understanding. He anticipates. He’s played against these teams several times now. He understands the tendencies of the players, the teams, I believe he understands what we’re attempting to do. He’s communicating. He’s the eyes of the defense. He’s the back line. So he’s done a terrific job for us.”
Not less than when he’s avoided foul trouble and stayed on the court.
Mitchell Robinson did not make his typical impact at each ends of the court within the Knicks’ successive road losses over the weekend, coping with foul trouble in each Milwaukee and Cleveland.
Robinson totaled only 41 minutes while picking up five fouls in each of the 2 games, scoring five points in 20 minutes Friday night’s loss against the Bucks and 4 in 21 minutes in Sunday’s loss to Donovan Mitchell and the Cavaliers that leveled the Knicks’ overall record to 3-3.
Robinson, who signed a four-year contract value $60 million within the offseason, hasn’t fouled out in any of the Knicks’ six games. But he’s been assessed five fouls in three of them, also including the team’s season-opening extra time loss in Memphis.
Thus, his five-foul games have occurred in each of the Knicks’ three losses, with the 7-foot center averaging 4.3 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.3 blocked shots in only 18 minutes per game.
Within the Knicks’ three wins against the Pistons, the Magic and the Hornets, Robinson has posted 10.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and three.7 blocks over half-hour per game.
The early-season foul issues have led to Robinson playing fewer minutes overall through six games than versatile backup center Isaiah Hartenstein. The free-agent signing has recorded 9.2 points and eight.0 rebounds in 25 minutes per appearance. He has been amongst the important thing reasons the Knicks ranked second within the NBA through Sunday’s motion in bench scoring with 44.5 points per game.
“He’s been terrific. We knew he could be,” Tom Thibodeau said Sunday of Hartenstein, who signed a two-year contract value $16 million as a free agent in July. “He gives you rim protection. He can shoot, he can pass. I assumed our bench played very well [in Cleveland], particularly in the primary half, form of got us going, but then obviously we didn’t play well down the stretch.”
The Knicks, who will face Atlanta at home on Wednesday, led Sunday’s game by nine points through three quarters, but they were outscored 37-15 over the ultimate 12 minutes. Robinson and Julius Randle checked into the sport for Hartenstein and Obi Toppin with the Knicks still clinging to a 99-98 lead with 7:25 remaining, but Cleveland closed out the sport with a 21-7 run over the ultimate 5:20.
After opening the season by hitting 15 of his first 17 field-goal attempts (88.2 percent) in the course of the Knicks’ 3-1 start, Robinson connected on just 4-for-11 from the ground (36.4 percent) in the course of the winless two-game trip.
Before Friday’ loss to the Bucks, Thibodeau had praised the 24-year-old Robinson’s mindset and improved health after steadily working his way back last season from a foot injury suffered in 2020.
“I believe he’s grown. I believe this summer was very productive, and the autumn was very productive. And his health, I believe, was the large thing,” Thibodeau said. “He’s put lots of work in. He gets there early. He’s staying late. He’s studying. But I believe it’s all been a process for him coming into the league really with no college background, after which just constructing and learning through his experiences.
“I believe, usually, the large thing is he was all the time in a position to get by along with his athleticism. Obviously, it’s an important attribute. I believe now he has a clearer understanding. He anticipates. He’s played against these teams several times now. He understands the tendencies of the players, the teams, I believe he understands what we’re attempting to do. He’s communicating. He’s the eyes of the defense. He’s the back line. So he’s done a terrific job for us.”
Not less than when he’s avoided foul trouble and stayed on the court.
