By all means, this is now an uncomfortably familiar territory for the Knicks. After being pulled down violently while attempting a dunk, Mitchell Robinson is listed as “Questionable” for Game 4. Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau was uncertain about Robinson’s status for Game 4 on Sunday afternoon and did not feel that the big man would play. Robinson has now missed 75 games in the last two seasons and over 50 games this season after a stress fracture on his left ankle.
In what turned out to be an extremely physical game, Robinson was on the receiving end of several questionable non-basketball plays made by 76ers star Joel Embiid. Embiid was given a flagrant 1 after he grabbed and pulled Robinson’s leg during an attempted dunk in Game 2. Additionally, he kicked Robinson in the groin while executing a step-back and also fell on Robinson’s leg. Robinson was ruled out with a sprained left ankle at halftime by the Knicks. He left Wells Fargo Center in a walking boot after the game.
Knicks Veteran Big-Man Listed as ‘Questionable’ for Game 4
Successes in Games 1 and 2
A huge reason for the Knicks’ wins in Games 1 & 2 was their center rotation. Isaiah Hartenstein and Mitchell Robinson made life very difficult for Embiid, as he shot just 39.2% from the field. The other advantage of having two physical centers is the staggered minutes. Both of them stayed relatively fresh throughout both games because their minutes were managed well. In Game 1, Hartenstein played the first 8 minutes of the game, and then the last 1:30 of the 1st half. Robinson played every second between that, and this switch allowed Robinson to sit down before the 3rd quarter. The physicality was consistently present on Embiid because he could not slow down on the court. Both centers consistently pushed and shoved him, exhausting his already weak body.
Additionally, much of the Knicks’ success is built on crashing the offensive glass. Hartenstein and Mitchell Robinson combined for 19 offensive boards across games 1 & 2, and they directly contributed to 22 second-chance points. The Knicks were able to be this dominant because they had two skilled bigs instead of just one. They used their strength to force him to settle for jump shots instead of getting to the rim. Furthermore, as seen across both games, they could back him down and score easy buckets near the rim. The rotations also allowed Thibs to manage the fouls on each player, and one could play even if the other was in trouble.
Mitchell Robinson listed QUESTIONABLE Game 4 with his sprained left ankle pic.twitter.com/gkuTqINrVP
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) April 27, 2024
What Happens if Mitchell Robinson Misses Game 4?
The pressure on Hartenstein to stay out of foul trouble will be enormous. Precious Achiuwa is a decent center, but he simply is not big enough. Embiid is 4 inches taller and weighs 33 lbs more than Achiuwa. He can easily back him down and get to the rim. If Robinson does not play, Hartenstein must take on a huge minute load. Moreover, he will have to make sure not to get into foul trouble because of the lack of bigs behind him. He will have to play lighter on Embiid, and do his best to make sure that Embiid does not get the phantom calls that he got in Game 3.
Hartenstein’s added minutes also mean more responsibilities on the offensive end. He will have to make up for the offensive rebounds that Robinson provides, and he must knock down shots consistently like he did in Game 2. OG Anunoby as a help defender will also be beneficial against Embiid. They have to double-team him while making sure somebody guards Tyrese Maxey. Doing this will force one of the role players to step up and beat the Knicks, something they have not been able to do.
Out of the 278 times a team has gone up 3-1, only 13 teams have come back to win the series, a 4.7% rate. The Knicks have the opportunity to shut the door on this series. Slam it as hard as you can.
