The early returns on Mitchell Robinson have not been great for the Boston Celtics. They made him the starting center four games into the season, and he's not doing what they brought him in to do. Robinson was supposed to provide offensive rebounding and defensive playmaking, but those aspects of his game have been largely absent.
Making it worse is that Neemias Queta and Luka Garza have largely outshined him when they have played. Despite Robinson having the better rep, Queta and Garza have familiarity with the Celtics. In a way, it makes Robinson's immense early struggles even more frustrating, knowing his talent.
The easy defense for Robinson is that the season is still young and he might be playing hurt (he has a rep for that too, sadly enough). There's another legitimate defense: getting Joe Mazzulla's philosophy down is not a given. Just ask Anfernee Simons.
Because Simons' tenure in Boston ended on a high note (not to mention it was unexpected when he was traded), it's easy to forget how clumsy his fit was at first in Boston. He missed defensive assignments and seemed to wing it as a scorer. There were multiple times on both ends of the floor where many would ask, "What's this guy doing?"
That first month or so, Mazzulla would bench him, even when it seemed like his shot was going in. However, over time, Simons adapted to his role, and eventually he became a fan favorite. It seems like a distant memory now, but finding out he was traded was met with overall devastation.
Robinson should get the same leash
Simons and Robinson are fundamentally extremely different players. Making that notion clear is hilarious in and of itself. However, Simons' struggles extended into December during his time as a Celtic. He eventually figured it out before the start of the new calendar year, but if he can do that, then so can Robinson.
Simons didn't get better because he suddenly remembered what he was good at. He got more comfortable and actively tried to do better as a defender once he understood how Mazzulla operated.
Robinson may very well have a similar story. It could take him a minute to figure out how he could best be used in Mazzulla's schemes. Obviously, he won't turn into the microwave scorer Simons did for a time, but he can turn into the game-changing force of nature Boston wanted him to be when they signed him.
Just because some players stumble when they first play under Mazzulla doesn't mean all hope is lost. Hopefully, if and when Robinson figures it out, he'll have a better legacy than Simons.
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