It's been well-documented that Mitchell Robinson's start with the Boston Celtics has been dreadful. He's not the rebounding terror many anticipated, and he's not catching lobs at the rate many thought he would. In all fairness, he revealed that he would take time to adjust to the Celtics ahead of time.
Growing pains aren't necessarily the most unexpected factor in this, but it would have been nice to see something positive to start with from Robinson, and there just hasn't been. At least, until recently.
Robinson hasn't suddenly started looking like himself, but some *not negative* developments have been brewing over the past few games: playing Robinson next to one of Boston's other bigs. After Neemias Queta has more or less taken his starting job back from Robinson, those two have shown some solid chemistry.
The net rating won't back it up, but Boston ran two bigs against Houston and Brooklyn with Robinson and Queta. This dynamic stood out in the second half against the Rockets. Boston was down by 10, but by the time Robinson was subbed out for Hugo Gonzalez, the lead had been cut down to five.
Robinson didn't necessarily do all that much himself, but the lineup proved effective. As long as Queta and Robinson not only play well together but also make the Celtics better together, that's a good sign.
Robinson's dynamic with Luka Garza has looked even better
Let's be fair about this. I only referenced a five-minute stretch. In the last two games, the Robinson-Queta pairing hasn't been that great by their two-man net rating. In six minutes together in the last two games, they have a net rating of minus 27.3. A small sample size, but not exactly encouraging.
What is encouraging is Robinson's minutes with Garza. Those two have played 18 minutes together in that same time span, and the two-man net rating with that duo is highly promising at a plus-13.9. Evidently, there might be something there.
Garza has shown that he should be playing. He's been one of the Celtics' best offensive rebounders and three-point shooters this season. If he and Robinson can continue to play well off each other, it could be the first step toward Robinson figuring out how to thrive in their system.
It's not necessarily a perfect pairing, but it's a promising one, and that's a good sign for someone like Robinson, who's shown almost nothing but bad signs eight games into the season.
Add us as a preferred source on Google