This time, Mitchell Robinson’s cheers at Madison Square Garden were genuine.
They were absolutely authentic.
He made a significant contribution in the Knicks’ 121-113 Game 4 win against the Celtics on Monday night.
The Celtics didn’t put Robinson on the line for free throws, which had been their strategy in the first three games of the series, likely due to his inconsistent shooting.
Celtics coach Joe Mazzula acknowledged how Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau utilized Robinson to counter that approach.
Robinson wasn’t on the court when the Celtics were in a penalty situation, and interestingly, he didn’t attempt a single free throw.
“They weren’t very advantageous [for us] compared to other games,” Mazzula said. “The opportunity just wasn’t as good as in the previous three games.”
Without the pressure of free throws, Robinson still managed to leave a substantial mark on the game.
Thibodeau kept Robinson on the court for most of the fourth quarter, subbing him back in early and leaving him there until just 1:44 was left on the clock. When he finally stepped off, he was met with a loud round of applause.
“That’s the pressure he puts on the rim, plus the threat of offensive rebounds leading to extra possessions. That’s invaluable for the team,” Thibodeau noted. “He and Jaren [Brunson] have a great connection on lobs. That kind of pressure creates opportunities that aren’t captured by statistics.”
Robinson teamed up with Miles McBride during crucial minutes.
McBride played from the 7:39 mark to 1:44, and during that period, with both players on the floor, the Knicks outscored the Celtics by eight points, widening a two-point lead to ten.
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Robinson logged around 25 minutes in the postseason.
“He’s something special,” said Karl Anthony Towns regarding Robinson. “When you’re up against him, you really understand his value. And when you’re a teammate, it becomes clear how much he impacts the game. He did everything right tonight.”
Robinson finished with eight rebounds, five of which were on the offensive end, helping the Knicks secure 15 second-chance points compared to the Celtics’ nine.
“That’s definitely one of my strengths,” Robinson remarked. “I focused on that and made sure to grab as many as I could.”
