There was neither rhyme nor reason to the New York Knicks’ load management plan for Mitchell Robinson. At least not one they shared publicly.
The oft-injured center played in the majority of preseason games only to sit out the start of the regular season with what the team called “left ankle management.”
Yes, you read that correctly. Part of a player’s load management plan was to play in the preseason but sit when games mattered.
According to the Knicks, Robinson didn’t suffer another injury and never copped to one. The team said it wanted to ease him along, ramp him up as the season went on and make sure he’s 100 percent healthy for the postseason.
So far, the plan — even if it still doesn’t make sense — is working.
Robinson has played some of his best basketball lately. The one-of-a-kind offensive rebounding has maintained, but his defense, potentially as smothering as anyone at his position, has returned to the form we saw in last season’s playoffs. In Saturday’s win over the 76ers, Robinson anchored a defense that held red-hot Joel Embiid and a Philadelphia offense that has often given New York issues to 13 third-quarter points.
While still a good defender to start the season, the veteran center has looked a bit more spry as of late. It’s shown while he’s both guarding in space and protecting the rim. He’s even established himself as a more regular lob threat on offense. The Robinson that fans have grown to appreciate over the last 1.5 years is rounding into form because he’s available, proving yet again that he’s more valuable to the Knicks on the court than as trade bait with the trade deadline nearing.
“He’s a special player,” OG Anunoby said about Robinson following Saturday’s win. “(There’s) no one like him in the league. His impact is felt every night in many different ways, so this is a usual night for him.”
From the beginning of the season until Christmas, the Knicks were a better defensive team when Robinson was on the court. In that span, New York had eight different five-man lineups that played at least 30 minutes together. Of those eight, the Knicks’ best two defensive ones both featured Robinson and had a defensive rating of 87.8 and 89.9. The best of those two lineups also had Karl-Anthony Towns on the court. The two-big lineup had shown to have some real stuff behind it, primarily because of Robinson’s impact to clean up behind Towns.
Since after Christmas, though, the two-big lineups have not worked defensively. To be fair, the Knicks, as a whole, have barely played defense over the last month and change. However, in January, the most competent defensive lineups New York has put on the floor, yet again, feature Robinson, but this time as the lone big man.
Head coach Mike Brown has played nine different combinations at least 15 minutes since Dec. 26. The ones with the best two defensive ratings once again have Robinson as the center alongside Anunoby at the four spot.
Robinson and Towns together haven’t had much success when Jalen Brunson is also on the floor. The five-man lineup of Brunson, Mikal Bridges, Anunoby, Robinson and Towns has played 16 minutes together over the last month and change and has the worst defensive rating (154.8) of any combination Brown has played over the last 15 games.
It’s a small sample size, so this is more of an observation than anything definitive, but when Robinson is the only true big on the floor, he is able to anchor a legitimately good defense. Lineups where Brunson is insulated by four other good defenders have performed fairly well. The issues of late have come into play when both Towns and Brunson are on the floor together. Brown seems to be trending toward separating those two a bit more because Robinson is healthy and available.
Robinson played 24-plus minutes in five games this month, with a season-high 27 coming in Saturday’s win. Before January, Robinson played 24 minutes just three times total.
“Our defensive player (of the game) was Mitch,” Brown said after the win in Philly. “Mitch was phenomenal. On the offensive glass, but he was really, really good for us defensively. Four deflections. Couple of 50-50 balls. Rebounding the ball really well. Couple of blocks. Big, big night from Mitch especially on the defensive end of the floor.”
The Knicks are approaching the NBA trade deadline with Robinson as an expiring contract. This front office, in past years, has often traded players with Robinson’s contract status or one similar. Immanuel Quickley. Quentin Grimes. Julius Randle. Just to name a few.
New York’s decision-makers can’t take that same approach with Robinson. Not if the goal is a championship. Aside from the fact that he has an offensive rebounding percentage higher than some teams, Robinson’s defensive ability allows the Knicks to play different ways. That ability also allows New York to better hide some of its weaknesses.
The Knicks’ plan behind managing Robinson isn’t complete. He still needs to make it to the postseason healthy. However, all is good so far.
— The Athletic’s Fred Katz contributed to this report.