Though they’re third within the Japanese Convention, make no mistake, the New York Knicks are very a lot a contender. The Knicks flying below the radar could in the end work to their profit, with New York having already constructed a championship-caliber staff.
That is notably true after the Knicks bolstered their roster through the commerce deadline, despite the fact that they failed to accumulate Milwaukee Bucks famous person Giannis Antetokounmpo. One participant who’s fueling their success has been backup middle Mitchell Robinson.
Regardless of not being a fantastic offensive participant, Robinson brings one thing to the desk that’s nearly equally as beneficial as scoring. He isn’t solely a implausible offensive rebounder however a historic one too.
Mitchell Robinson’s elite talent is a game-changer for the Knicks
In actual fact, he’s on tempo to set an NBA file for offensive rebounding charge, with him snatching up 8 offensive rebounds per 36 minutes. For superior stats nerds, that is a staggering 24.5% offensive rebounding charge, which is extraordinary.
Having a participant that dominant on the glass is a aggressive benefit. Groups are already cautious about holding him off of the glass, however he by some means continues to dominate second-chance alternatives and provides the Knicks an edge.
Take as an example the NBA Cup Finals. The Knicks seemed as if they have been going to lose to the San Antonio Spurs.
However with Karl-Anthony Cities on the bench, Robinson got here alive. He grabbed a surprising 10 offensive boards in 18 minutes, gifting New York treasured second-chance alternatives towards an elite protection.
Robinson’s offensive rebounding could give the Knicks a playoff edge
That efficiency might doubtlessly bode nicely for the Knicks on this yr’s playoffs. Certain, Robinson could solely be the fifth or sixth most gifted participant on the Knicks, however that elite talent has particular significance.
This level is particularly true in high-pressure playoff video games the place the affect of offensive rebounds could be vital. Within the postseason, possessions grow to be more and more beneficial because the video games are inclined to decelerate.
Due to this fact, successful the possession battle would give the Knicks an edge. Robinson alone may help them win that battle. Higher but, he can even assist them defensively. Opposing groups must ship at the least two gamers to field out as an alternative of getting out in transition.
That helps to sluggish the sport down and permits for the Knicks to defend with a set protection. There, Robinson’s rim safety and New York’s wing defenders can get them stops, which may very well be a recipe for fulfillment for the Knicks within the NBA playoffs.
