To start or not to start. That is the question. Mitchell Robinson ’s return from December ankle surgery is getting closer by the day, and the starting Knicks big man created a mini-controversy over his position in Tom Thibodeau’s rotation with a comment he made on an
Instagram post-Sunday afternoon. A Knicks
Social Media fan page posted a graphic of Robinson alongside Jalen Brunson , Donte DiVincenzo, OG Anunoby and Julius Randle as a healthy Knicks starting five on March 4. Two weeks later, Robinson commented under the post: “I’ll rather come off the bench maybe I can show more” with a shrug emoji. The idea of Robinson coming off the bench isn’t as concerning as his rationale. After all, there’s ample tape showing just how dominant the starting Knicks center is when he’s healthy on the court on a consistent basis. Robinson is a ferocious rebounder, shot-blocker, lob-finisher and screen-setter, a perpetual Defensive Player of the Year dark horse contestant anchoring the paint for the Knicks on both ends of the floor. New York’s next-man-up mentality, however, can breed a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately environment. And lately, Isaiah Hartenstein has been steady at center for the Knicks, though he’s dealing with a recurring left Achilles injury of his own. The Knicks have believed since the beginning of the season they have owned the best one-two punch at the center spot in all of
basketball. The question: Who’s one and who’s two? Robinson was the unquestioned starter at the beginning of the season, even when it became clear Hartenstein was the best backup five in the league at the time. He’s been the full-time starter at the center for the Knicks for four seasons in a row and is a home-grown product as the Knicks’ 36th overall pick in the 2018
NBA Draft. Robinson has consistently ranked among the league’s best offensive rebounders over the past three seasons. In fact, he still leads the NBA in offensive rebounds per game (5.3) and ranks 41st in total offensive rebounds despite not playing in a game since Dec. 8. Robinson’s vertical leap adds a lob threat dimension the Knicks haven’t often used with Hartenstein, Precious Achiuwa or Jericho Sims. And he’s a shot-blocking savant whose paint prowess doesn’t always show up in the box score: He deters drivers from attempting shots at the rim altogether. It’s hard to envision opposing offenses effectively game-planning for a Knicks defensive front featuring both Anunoby and Robinson when the seven-footer returns to the floor. If you start Robinson immediately when he’s cleared to play, you fast-track his ability to build chemistry with Anunoby in the starting lineup. The Knicks traded for the former Raptors star on Dec. 31 , three weeks after Robinson’s injury in Boston against the Celtics. He has yet to play minutes with Anunoby, one of the most integral components to a deep playoff run in New York. In fact, Robinson has not played a full game this season with DiVincenzo in the starting lineup. DiVincenzo’s first game replacing Quentin Grimes as a starter came the same night Robinson went down due to injury. Thrust Robinson back into the starting lineup as soon as he’s cleared, and he can regain chemistry and catch a rhythm entering the playoffs. It gives Hartenstein an opportunity to settle back into his original role as one of the first players off the bench, and Thibodeau can use the remainder of the regular season games to figure out his rotations with Achiuwa, Josh Hart, Bojan Bogdanovic and Alec Burks. It’s best for everyone to settle into the roles Thibodeau sees fit sooner rather than later. Achiuwa is another big man deserving of minutes in
New York, and Thibodeau likes to play Achiuwa at the four. An Anunoby-Achiuwa-Robinson defensive front could be impenetrable at The Garden. Robinson is the missing piece to a dominant defensive interior in New York. The Knicks have been just as good, however, if not better since Hartenstein stepped up in Robinson’s absence. Hartenstein has proven himself a legitimate starting center in the NBA this season with the Knicks — not just a fill-in playing above his means. Hartenstein ranks top-five in offensive rebounding and top-15 in total rebounds per game since Robinson’s Dec. 8 stress fracture. He is a gifted passer, even if the Knicks don’t use his play-making abilities as much as they should with the ball predominantly in Brunson’s hands. And he’s been a far-better rim-protecting presence than expected, meeting several high-flyers at the rim for highlight-reel rejections since stepping into the starting spot. If it weren’t for Hartenstein, Robinson’s abilities would have crippled the Knicks — or forced a different approach ahead of the Feb. 8 NBA Trade Deadline. The Knicks are 26-14 in games Hartenstein has played in since Robinson left the rotation on Dec. 8. and just 2-4 in games he’s missed due to the sore left Achilles. Hartenstein also has team chemistry on his side: Six of the 10 five-man lineups logging the most minutes in a Knicks jersey this season feature Hartenstein versus just three for Robinson and one with both Achiuwa and Sims sharing minutes. When Robinson last played, RJ Barrett was a starter and Immanuel Quickley was the sixth man. Hartenstein has been on the floor for each rendition of the 2023-24 Knicks. The team has found a steady rhythm it can build upon when Robinson and Randle rejoin the rotation entering the playoffs, and Robinson would be a game-changer as a defensive anchor and vertical threat. He could thrive in a unit with both Bogdanovic and Burks. Hartenstein is the glue holding the ship together. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Robinson’s health should be top priority — and team chemistry should rank a not-so-distant second. It’s why Robinson should come off the bench, not only until he proves he’s as dominant as he was prior to the surgery, but also until the team proves it can function just as well if not better with Robinson in the starting lineup over Hartenstein. One thing about Thibodeau: He’s going to put the five players on the floor who give his Knicks the best chance to win a game. If that player is Robinson, Thibodeau will make the call — and even if he doesn’t start the game, he could be on the floor for critical late-game minutes. Returning to a team after more than three months sidelined isn’t any easier than joining a new team in a mid-season trade. Make no mistake: This is a good problem for the Knicks to have. After all, the Knicks have the best one-two punch at the center spot in all of basketball. So long as they don’t get wrapped up in who’s the one and who’s the two. The priority should be winning, regardless of who’s on the floor, and the player who gives the team the best chance to win will be the one who earns the nod.