<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/new-york-knicks/knicks-ongoing-struggles-overshadow-mitchell-robinson-return');   ga('set', 'title', 'Knicks’ ongoing struggles overshadow Mitchell Robinson’s return');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Knicks-ongoing-struggles-overshadow-Mitchell-Robinsons-return.jpg"></figure><h1>Knicks’ ongoing struggles overshadow Mitchell Robinson’s return</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-03-17T15:32:39-07:00">March 17th, 3:32pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-03-17T15:33:13-07:00">March 17th, 3:33pm</time><address><a>Drew Maresca</a>Drew Maresca is a NY-area writer and researcher who has covered the NBA for more than 5 years. Prior to joining ClutchPoints to cover the New York Knicks, Drew wrote for Basketball News and Basketball Insiders. Drew has conducted interviews inside NBA locker rooms including Madison Square Garden, the Barclays Center, and the Kia Center, and he covered the 2019 NBA Draft in-person from Brooklyn.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The New York Knicks are in a bit of a slump. They’ve lost four of their last six games. And, more importantly, they <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-york-knicks/knicks-news-jalen-brunson-injury-update">lost Jalen Brunson to an ankle injury</a>, which could cost him the rest of March, if not longer.</p><p>However, a deeper look reveals that the Knicks’ depth should have been their primary concern all along. And despite <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-york-knicks/knicks-news-mitchell-robinson-return-new-york">returning Mitchell Robinson</a> and becoming whole for a split second, the team’s depth concerns were never really alleviated.</p><h2><b>Knicks depth struggles morph—but remain</b></h2><p>New York entered the season with a limited bench. This was partially due to trades that resulted in adding Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges, while sending out Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, and Bojan Bogdanovic (as well as a plethora of picks). While Bogdanovic hasn’t played this season due to injuries sustained in last year’s playoffs, that doesn’t change the fact that New York consolidated its talent.</p><p>Additionally, Precious Achiuwa began the season rehabbing an injury, Isaiah Hartenstein was lost to a more lucrative offer, and Robinson just returned from an ankle injury, as well.</p><p>The result wasn’t pretty. The Knicks were left with limited rotation-worthy players beyond their starters.</p><p>But as expected, the Knicks recovered. Achiuwa returned, as did Robinson. Specifically, New York’s defensive rating jumped tremendously following Robinson’s return. However, the Knicks’ depth leaves more to be desired.</p><p>Some of this can be explained by the void that Brunson’s absence creates. Brunson is easily the team’s best player. And the Knicks are simply not the same without their primary weapon. Miles McBride has played valiantly in his Brunson’s place, but McBride and Brunson are on two entirely different levels.</p><p>Ultimately, though, the struggle that the Knicks must overcome can’t be solved by Brunson’s return. It is a lack of truly impactful role players, and coach Tom Thibodeau is partially to blame.</p><h2><b>Developing existing rookies could help solve Knicks’ depth woes</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Pacome-Dadiet-fights-for-a-loose-ball-against-the-Brooklyn-Nets-Jalen-Wilson-in-a-November-match-up.jpg"><figcaption>Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Let’s be clear, New York’s depth problem <i>could</i> be solved by better reserves. But it could also be improved upon by a deeper bench predicated on reliable youth. Problem is, that requires Thibodeau to trust his younger players and give them more opportunities.</p><p>Frankly, New York has done a poor job of developing its youngsters. 2024 first-round draft pick, Pacome Dadiet showed some flashes in his limited (95) minutes this season. Ironically, the Knicks could use a more polished wing, and Dadiet could have been on his way to becoming that if given more of an opportunity.</p><p>Tyler Kolek is another rookie who should have received more than the 152 minutes he’s played thus far. He clearly has promise but hasn’t yet received an actual opportunity. And with Cam Payne entering unrestricted free agency after this season, the Knicks would have been wise to understand if Kolek can step into that role.</p><p>Ariel Huckporti was <i>just</i> beginning to develop a role of his own, albeit one out of necessity. He’s played well. However, ignoring his final three appearances before the knee injury—all of which came immediately before Robinson’s return—Hukporti appeared in 10 or more minutes on only five occasions.</p><p>One or all of those young guys could have been part of the solution this year or next. Further, if given more time, New York could have known more about what they had in each, facilitating informed decisions this offseason. Instead, the Knicks front office will have limited game tape on which they can base their 2025-26 roster decisions.</p><p>And that ignores TJ Warren, who remains on the Westchester Knicks. Despite boasting a strong NBA background <i>and</i> averaging 25.1 points and 6.7 rebounds per game this season in the G-League, there has been no talk of a promotion.</p><h2><b>Knicks need more from reserves if they hope to compete for title</b></h2><p>Sadly, the Knicks are going to have to do more with less if they hope to make a run this season. Last season’s conference champions got 35.8 and 29.3 points per game, respectively, from their benches. New York’s 2023-24 bench ranked 27th, but still managed 28.4 points per game. This season’s version is worse.</p><p>The Knicks are dead last in bench scoring, squeezing only 21.2 points per game out of its bench. And much of that has to do with a lack of opportunity. The Knicks are also last in bench minutes per game, averaging only 12.3 minutes per game, according to <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/teams/traditional?Season=2024-25&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;StarterBench=Bench&amp;dir=A&amp;sort=MIN">NBA.com</a>.</p><p>The Knicks and coach Thibodeau are in need of an intervention-style change. They have to allocate more minutes to the bench, and they need their reserves to come through for them.</p><p>Neither of those needs are a foregone conclusion, and that’s a problem. However, if Thibodeau and the Knicks hope to take the next step (now or in the future), they’ll have to strike a better balance between starters and reserves. And there’s no better time to get started than the present.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Knicks’ ongoing struggles overshadow Mitchell Robinson’s return

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/new-york-knicks/are-og-anunoby-mitchell-robinson-playing-tonight-knicks-lakers-injury-report');   ga('set', 'title', 'Are OG Anunoby, Mitchell Robinson playing tonight? Knicks vs. Lakers injury report');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Are-OG-Anunoby-Mitchell-Robinson-playing-tonight-Knicks-vs.-Lakers-injury-report.jpg"></figure><h1>Are OG Anunoby, Mitchell Robinson playing tonight? Knicks vs. Lakers injury report</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-03-06T06:52:27-08:00">March 6th, 6:52am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-03-06T15:54:08-08:00">March 6th, 3:54pm</time><address><a>Erik Slater</a>Erik Slater is the credentialed Brooklyn Nets beat reporter for ClutchPoints. He's a graduate of Lehigh University and the Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University, as well as a Lehigh Football and Syracuse Football alum.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Lakers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/betting/knicks-lakers-prediction-odds-pick-spread-3-6-2025">New York Knicks will visit the Los Angeles Lakers</a> on Thursday at Crypto.com Arena. OG Anunoby and Mitchell Robinson <a href="https://ak-static.cms.nba.com/referee/injury/Injury-Report_2025-03-06_08AM.pdf" rel="noopener">are questionable on the team’s injury report</a>. Anunoby is dealing with a left thumb sprain, while Robinson is listed as left ankle injury recovery.</p><p>Here’s everything we know about Anunoby and Robinson’s injuries and playing statuses vs. the Lakers.</p><p><i><b>*Watch NBA games LIVE with fuboTV <a href="https://www.fubo.tv/lp/nba/?irad=356361&amp;irmp=492408" rel="noopener sponsored">(Get Access | Save $30)</a>*</b></i></p><h2>OG Anunoby injury status vs. Lakers</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/OG-Anunoby.jpg"><figcaption>Petre Thomas-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Anunoby has battled several injuries this season. However, he’s appeared in the Knicks’ last six games since returning from a foot sprain, averaging 17.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists on 44/37/82 shooting percentage splits.</p><p>He popped up on the Knicks’ status report with a thumb sprain following Tuesday’s 114-102 loss to the Golden State Warriors. A questionable tag indicates he’s experiencing discomfort but will have a chance to suit up in Los Angeles.</p><p>Robinson made his first appearances of the season in New York’s last three games after multiple ankle surgeries. The center has averaged 5.0 points and 4.0 rebounds on 63.6 percent shooting in 13.7 minutes per game. A questionable tag indicates the Knicks are managing his load after he missed most of the regular season, although he’ll have a chance to play vs. the Lakers.</p><p>Karl-Anthony Towns will be available for the Knicks on Thursday after <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-york-knicks/knicks-news-karl-anthony-towns-absence-cryptic-tom-thibodeau-update">missing Tuesday’s game for personal reasons</a>.</p><p>New York has looked far from a championship team while posting a 4-3 record post-All-Star break. Tom Thibodeau’s squad sits third in the Eastern Conference at 40-21, 3.5 games behind the Boston Celtics for second.</p><p>Meanwhile, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-luka-doncic-trade-nba-pissed-confused-month-later">Lakers have posted an 8-2 record since trading for Luka Doncic</a>. They rank 11th in offense, third in defense, and sixth in net rating (8.1) during that span. The hot streak has tied Los Angeles with the Denver Nuggets for second place in the Western Conference.</p><h2><b>Knicks injury report</b></h2><p>Precious Achiuwa: Questionable – Left Hamstring; Tightness</p><p>OG Anunoby: Questionable – Left Thumb Sprain</p><p>Pacome Dadiet: Questionable – G League – On Assignment</p><p>Ariel Hukporti: Out – Left Knee; Meniscus Surgery</p><p>Tyler Kolek: Questionable – G League – On Assignment</p><p>Kevin McCullar Jr.: Out – G League – Two-Way</p><p>Mitchell Robinson: Questionable – Left Ankle; Surgery Injury Recovery</p><h2><b>Lakers injury report</b></h2><p>Luka Donic: Probable – Right Knee; Contusion</p><p>Jordan Goodwin: Out – Right Ankle; Sprain</p><p>Rui Hachimura: Out – Left Patellar; Tendinopathy</p><p>LeBron James: Probable – Left Foot; Injury Management</p><p>Maxi Kleber: Out – Right Foot; Surgery Recovery</p><p>Markieff Morris: Out – Illness</p><p>Austin Reaves: Probable – Right Calf; Strain</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Are OG Anunoby, Mitchell Robinson playing tonight? Knicks vs. Lakers injury report

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/new-york-knicks/knicks-news-mitchell-robinson-return-new-york');   ga('set', 'title', '3 ways Mitchell Robinson’s return impacts Knicks');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/3-ways-Mitchell-Robinsons-return-impacts-Knicks.jpg"></figure><h1>3 ways Mitchell Robinson’s return impacts Knicks</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-03-01T13:24:17-08:00">March 1st, 1:24pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-03-01T13:24:17-08:00">March 1st, 1:24pm</time><address><a>Drew Maresca</a>Drew Maresca is a NY-area writer and researcher who has covered the NBA for more than 5 years. Prior to joining ClutchPoints to cover the New York Knicks, Drew wrote for Basketball News and Basketball Insiders. Drew has conducted interviews inside NBA locker rooms including Madison Square Garden, the Barclays Center, and the Kia Center, and he covered the 2019 NBA Draft in-person from Brooklyn.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The New York Knicks are now as complete a team as they can be. New York’s <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-york-knicks/knicks-news-mitchell-robinson-welcome-ny-return">Mitchell Robinson returned from an injury against the Memphis Grizzlies</a>, helping to secure the victory. And while the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-york-knicks/knicks-news-new-yorks-latest-blowout-loss-celtics-separation-nbas-elite">major narrative around the Knicks is that they can’t beat the elite teams in the NBA,</a> they are now 4-0 against the 2nd (Denver Nuggets) and 3rd (Grizzlies) seeds in the Western Conference. And with Robinson back, their ceiling becomes considerably higher.</p><h2><b>Mitchell Robinson’s first game back with Knicks was a marginal success</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Mitchell-Robinson.jpg"><figcaption>Petre Thomas-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Robinson looked good in his first game back, despite limited time. He tallied six points, five rebounds, and only one personal foul in 12 minutes and 20 seconds of action. He was in the game down the stretch, which makes sense considering Robinson’s defensive prowess and the back and forth nature of the game. And he was a team-high +11, which speaks to his broader impact. But most importantly, he appeared to move well with and without the ball.</p><p>So, exactly how will Robinson help the Knicks? His length, shot-blocking, and rebounding will almost certainly move the needle. Let’s explore three specific ways that Robinson’s return will help the Knicks achieve success this season.</p><h2><b>Robinson takes pressure off of Karl-Anthony Towns</b></h2><p>Karl-Anthony Towns is obviously a major part of the Knicks success. He’s held up well thus far, but who knows how long that lasts. Towns is averaging 35 minutes per game this season, which is more than he’s averaged since 2017-18. However, Towns played only 31 minutes in their recent win over the Grizzlies, despite the Knicks being down for much of it.</p><p>Granted, Robinson’s skill set is dramatically different than that of Towns. In fact, they’re pretty much polar  opposites, with Towns boasting offensive versatility and Robinson representing a defensive anchor. But Robinson’s size alleviates some of the strain on Towns, as Towns was previously the only seven-footer with any noteworthy NBA experience. So, at the very least, Robinson’s presence should translate to a fresher Towns.</p><h2><b>Robinson should give the Knicks a major rebounding boost</b></h2><p>Robinson had been an incredible rebounder throughout his career, and arguably the best offensive rebounder in the league. Conversely, New York is below average. They are 24th in total rebounding, and 22nd in offensive rebounds. Robinson should give New York a major rebound infusion.</p><p>Granted, New York got smoked on the glass against the Grizzlies (58-35), but Robinson played a limited role. Throughout his career, Robinson is a significantly above-average rebounder. He led the NBA in offensive rebounds last season, and he’s averaged at least eight rebounds per game for the past four seasons.</p><p>The Knicks can take advantage of additional rebounds, benefiting from additional possessions and getting out on fast breaks more freely.</p><h2><b>Rim protectors like Robinson deter attempts at the rim</b></h2><p>Robinson undoubtedly adds a major defensive presence. Sure, his blocks per game have tapered off since his rookie season, some of which is due to the fact that he’s carried more weight— mostly an intentional move to help him bang with bigger centers on the block. But a lot of it stems from his reputation.</p><p>Robinson is a known shot-blocker. Even players like Ja Morant, who are known for putting shot-blockers on posters, think twice about challenging Robinson. And that isn’t conjecture or interpretation. It happened in Robinson’s first game back.</p><p>At one point, Morant had a relatively clear path to the basket, with only Robinson between him and the rim. Morant hesitated for a split second, allowing the rest of the defense to catch up. That’s not to say that Morant was scared. And it doesn’t mean that Robinson never gets dunked on. It just means that his reputation for blocking shots precedes him. And that should lead to fewer easy buckets, as less vertically inclined players shoot pull-up jumpers or floaters instead of attacking the rim.</p><p>Ultimately, Robinson’s many benefits are meaningless if he can’t remain healthy. So, coach Tom Thibodeau would be well-served to work him back into the rotation slowly. But he did a great job handling Robinson’s minutes against the Grizzlies.</p><p>If Robinson can continue to contribute while on a minutes restriction, that’s a huge win for the Knicks. But the long game is the playoffs. Can Robinson continue to work himself into basketball shape as New York approaches the playoffs? If so, and he’s back to full form come mid-April, then some of the Knicks’ depth issues evaporate. And maybe, just maybe, they can compete with the likes of the Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Oklahoma City Thunder.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

3 ways Mitchell Robinson’s return impacts Knicks

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/new-york-knicks/knicks-news-mitchell-robinson-welcome-ny-return');   ga('set', 'title', 'Mitchell Robinson receives hero’s welcome in Knicks return');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Knicks-news-Mitchell-Robinson-receives-hero-s-welcome-in-NY-return.jpg"></figure><h1>Mitchell Robinson receives hero’s welcome in Knicks return</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-02-28T19:23:37-08:00">February 28th, 7:23pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-02-28T19:23:37-08:00">February 28th, 7:23pm</time><address><a>Troy Finnegan</a>Troy Finnegan is a Senior Editor and College Sports Lead at ClutchPoints. He graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder in 2023 with a degree in journalism and minors in communications and sports media, as well as a critical sports studies certificate. He has had a passion for sports his entire life, and enjoys covering and writing about all sports.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The New York Knicks have been a bit of an oddity this season. The Knicks have a very good record at 38-20 and are comfortably in third place in the Eastern Conference, but they have a terrible record against the top teams in the NBA.</p><p>The Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/knicks-news-jalen-brunson-blunt-nsfw-take-record-top-teams">have blown the Knicks out</a> in just about every meeting this year, leaving fans skeptical of New York’s chances to actually compete for a championship. Knicks fans are hoping that the addition of center Mitchell Robinson will help make up that gap as he returns from ankle surgery to make his season debut.</p><p>Robinson <a href="https://x.com/ClutchPoints/status/1895647213927399735" rel="noopener">took the floor</a> for the Knicks on Friday night for the first time this season as New York takes on the Memphis Grizzlies.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Mitchell Robinson checks in for the Knicks for the first time this season 🙌</p><p> <a href="https://t.co/1QaSzgylli">pic.twitter.com/1QaSzgylli</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1895647213927399735?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 1, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/knicks-mitchell-robinson-set-to-make-injury-return">Robinson will have a chance to make his debut</a> in front of the Knicks faithful at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night when the Golden State Warriors come to town for a blockbuster matchup. The Knicks also play in Miami against the Heat on Sunday.</p><p>Robinson’s shot blocking will be a big asset for the Knicks, who are currently lacking a rim protector in the middle to tie things together with their deep stable of wing stoppers. However, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/mitchell-robinson-replace-knicks-ideal-starting-lineup">Tom Thibodeau has some tough decisions to make</a> with his rotation regarding who is in the starting lineup.</p><p>Karl-Anthony Towns has been starting at center while Robinson has been out, so Thibodeau could either opt to start Robinson in place of Josh Hart and bump Towns down to the four or he could bring Robinson off the bench.</p><p>Robinson will obviously come in as a reserve until he is back in game shape and isn’t playing limited minutes, but Towns’ comfort with the move could be a big factor in the decision.</p><p>Towns has a lot of experience playing the four after spending multiple seasons starting alongside Rudy Gobert in Minnesota, but he has thrived with the extra spacing that he is granted as a five on the offensive end of the floor. Thibodeau is known as a defensive-minded coach, but would he sacrifice some production on offense for the rim protection that Robinson provides?</p><p>Regardless of his role on this Knicks team, there’s no doubt that Robinson can be a helpful piece of the rotation if he is healthy. The Knicks will be thrilled to have him back in the lineup after a long absence.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Mitchell Robinson receives hero’s welcome in Knicks return

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/new-york-knicks/mitchell-robinson-replace-knicks-ideal-starting-lineup');   ga('set', 'title', 'Who Mitchell Robinson must replace in Knicks’ ideal starting lineup');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Who-Mitchell-Robinson-must-replace-in-Knicks-ideal-starting-lineup.jpg"></figure><h1>Who Mitchell Robinson must replace in Knicks’ ideal starting lineup</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-02-28T06:48:25-08:00">February 28th, 6:48am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-02-28T06:48:25-08:00">February 28th, 6:48am</time><address><a>Drew Maresca</a>Drew Maresca is a NY-area writer and researcher who has covered the NBA for more than 5 years. Prior to joining ClutchPoints to cover the New York Knicks, Drew wrote for Basketball News and Basketball Insiders. Drew has conducted interviews inside NBA locker rooms including Madison Square Garden, the Barclays Center, and the Kia Center, and he covered the 2019 NBA Draft in-person from Brooklyn.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The New York Knicks’ center <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-york-knicks/knicks-news-mitchell-robinson-injury-return-imminent">Mitchell Robinson is almost back from injury</a>. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-york-knicks/knicks-mitchell-robinson-set-to-make-injury-return">Robinson could return as soon as this weekend.</a> And he will add significant size, length, and rebounding to a team in need of help with all three aspects of the game.</p><p>And while the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-york-knicks/how-knicks-improve-now-summer-legitimate-title-contenders">Knicks probably need more than just Robinson to compete for a championship</a>, it sounds as if coach Tom Thibodeau plans to re-insert the seven-footer into the startling lineup sooner than later. But who will he replace? Let’s review Thibodeau’s options and gauge which Knick might move to the bench.</p><p>First of all, Robinson’s return will obviously not impact star point guard Jalen Brunson’s role. And while it could shift Karl-Anthony Towns to power forward, there is virtually no chance that Towns moves out of the starting lineup. That leaves three options: OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges.</p><h2><b>OG Anunoby is least likely to join the reserves</b></h2><p>Anunoby could technically join the reserves, but it’s unlikely. The six-foot-seven-inch defensive specialist is a true wing capable of guarding all five positions. He balances the starters nicely, taking on a multitude of defensive assignments. And he is almost constantly in motion on offense, serving as a cutter for a team that needs more players to move without the ball. He’s shooting a respectable 36% on three-pointers. And he’s quietly averaging 16.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game.</p><p>Another important thing to remember when discussing Anunoby joining the reserves is how well New York plays with him as a starter. Anunoby has exclusively played with the starters since joining the Knicks. And New York’s fortunes immediately took a positive turn after he joined via trade in January 2024. They went 19-4 to close last season with Anunoby (when he was healthy), and they are currently 53-22 in total when he plays. So, Anunoby is probably the wrong guy to consider.</p><h2><b>Josh Hart is a logical choice</b></h2><p>To non-Knicks fans, Hart is the logical choice to move to the bench if Robinson is to join the starters. He is least recognizable from a star-standpoint, and he is the least aligned with a traditional position. Is he a power forward, small forward, or shooting guard? And Hart’s motor makes it easy to believe that he will give 100% no matter what.</p><p>But Knicks fans understand how well he’s performed as a starter. And a closer look at Hart’s output demonstrates how much playing with the starters helped the eight-year pro take another step in his development. In 2023-24, Hart averaged an impressive 11.7 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game in 42 games as a starter. Comparatively, he averaged only 6.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.6 assists as a reserve.</p><p>Granted, Hart received about 12 minutes more per game as a starter. But Thibodeau probably doesn’t want to tinker with Hart’s impact, especially since he sets the tone for the team’s energy and effort.</p><h2><b>Mikal Bridges works in the second unit</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/New-York-Knicks-guard-Josh-Hart-defends-Philadelphia-76ers-guard-Kelly-Oubre-Jr.-during-the-fourth-quarter.jpg"><figcaption>Brad Penner-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Bridges might be the odd man out as far as the starting lineup is concerned—and it might not be a bad thing for him. Bridges has struggled to find a role with the Knicks this season. Sure, he’s had some big games. But on the whole, he’s looked lost more frequently than any other starter.</p><p>Bridges’ lack of a role is most evident when looking at free throw attempts.  Simply put, he doesn’t get to the foul line anymore. After averaging 4.4 attempts per game in 2022-23 and 4.5 last season, he’s <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/bridgmi01.html" rel="noopener">averaging a career-low</a> 1.1 free throw attempts per game this season.</p><p>Bridges free throw attempts aren’t a <i>huge</i> deal, and it’s not entirely Bridges’ fault. Transitioning to the third or fourth option is tough—and it’s uncharted territory for the six-foot-six-inch guard.</p><p>Recently, he was the obvious first option for the Brooklyn Nets for the last season-and-a-half. And it’s understandably challenging to not only learn a new offensive system, but also have to find shots without them being manufactured for you. Maybe moving to the bench can give Bridges more freedom to come into the game and serve as a bigger offensive focal point.</p><p>Regardless if the move benefits whomever joins the reserves, a new starting lineup will probably be given a look some time soon. But nothing is forever. And the lineup can easily revert back to its current form with Robinson joining the reserves.</p><p>But if the change benefits the team, who in their right mind would argue against it? And <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/new-york-knicks/knicks-news-new-yorks-latest-blowout-loss-celtics-separation-nbas-elite">given how the Knicks have played against the teams standing between them and a championship</a>, it’s worth exploring.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Who Mitchell Robinson must replace in Knicks’ ideal starting lineup

Reggie Jackson

Raul Neto

Semi Ojeleye

Damion Lee

Mitchell Robinson

Admiral Schofield

Nik Stauskas

D.J. Wilson

Anfernee Simons

Justin Anderson

2018-19 All-Rookie

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i love you more🏌🏾‍♂️✨ https://t.co/Dv8nnlFh0T

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