Heading into a highly anticipated Finals matchup between a hot Knicks team and a young and upcoming Spurs team, Mitchell Robinson was consistently brought up as someone who could have a big impact even in limited minutes. In the past, he’s dominated games, even series, with his elite offensive rebounding and game-changing defense. And he’s also had success slowing down Victor Wembanyama. Through three games, though, he’s been anything but a game changer.
In game one, the reserve big man had some solid minutes, scoring two points and grabbing six rebounds in 13 minutes. But since then, he’s not only been neutralized, but his presence has seemingly been detrimental to the team. He has yet to have a single game where he’s had a positive plus-minus, he’s grabbed just six offensive rebounds, has just one steal, and one block, and he’s done all that despite spending some of his minutes playing against Spurs backup, Luke Kornet, someone who many believed Robinson could, and would dominate.
Unfortunately for the Knicks, though, it’s only gotten worse as the series has gone on. His game two, despite being bad, wasn’t disastrous. He was a -10 in 14 minutes, but made three of his six free throws, scored two baskets, and was more active defensively. Last night, though, Robinson looked very bad.
It’s hard to tell if it’s the hand, the overwhelming crowd, the moment, or just a lack of concentration, but it was clear from the beginning that Robinson just wasn’t where he needed to be. With about two minutes left in the first quarter, when the aforementioned Kornet sets a screen for De’Aaron Fox, he is caught flat-footed with his arms down, allowing Fox to take a very easy two-dribble pull-up jump shot. Making this play confusing is the fact that Kornet isn’t even rolling or popping. After setting a screen, he stands there for a good second or two, making Robinson’s decision to continue dropping questionable if not downright bad.
Just seconds later, Kornet gets the ball at the top of the key, which initiates a Dylan Harper cut off of him. Robinson, instead of reading this and dropping back, watches Landry Shamet get blown up the Kornet screen, which leads to a highlight dunk for the Spurs rookie. Why is Robinson playing up on Kornet like he is Karl-Anthony Towns? Nobody knows.
But it doesn’t stop there. He had a play later on in the game where he just accepts being screened by Keldon Johnson on a delayed transition play in the third quarter. This leads to an open Wembanyama, who then drops off a pass to Johnson for a layup. There’s another play on a failed lob play where Wembanyama can’t finish the alley-oop, but comes down with it. Robinson is right there, but does little to impact the attempt. For much of the series, Robinson has failed to do the things he’s known for. He hasn’t matched the physicality, the energy, or attention to detail that the Spurs, and the stage that is the Finals calls for. And that’s a big problem for him and the Knicks.
Even in short spurts and limited minutes, Robinson’s ability to be an elite backup center and be a disruptor was supposed to be one of the key strengths for the Knicks. His doing so would give the Knicks 48 uninterrupted minutes of elite center play against one of the best bigs in the league. Instead, they’ve gotten a confusingly uninspired performance that is inexplicable for the biggest games of his life.
The Knicks are still the favorites with [-180 odds to win it all on FanDuel](https://sportsbook.fanduel.com/navigation/nba?tab=nba-finals), but last night’s loss closed the gap substantially. If New York wants to get back to their winning ways and keep the Spurs from making those odds uncomfortably close, matching San Antonio’s physicality, activity, and energy will be pivotal, and Robinson getting his head in the game would go a long way in helping them do so.
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