Integrating Mitchell Robinson has been harder for the Boston Celtics than most thought. He's not providing the rebounding many thought he would. He's also not the lob threat most had hoped he would be. Given his impact on how the New York Knicks won the title, he's fallen short of expectations.
Last night was a step in the right direction for Robinson, even if it's baby steps for him. He looked more active. His rim pressure was there, and he finished lobs. He even set a crushing screen against Chicago. He wasn't the biggest standout, but compared to his earlier performances, it was better.
Optimistically, he can build off of this. Robinson leaves a lot of room for improvement, but it's a long season, and the Celtics have shown internal improvement before. This is a new team for Robinson with a different style to play and different personnel to play with. That hasn't limited Paul George at all, for the record, but it's not always a given that a player will fit right in like a glove.
If last night was a sign that it's only going to get better from here, then the Celtics become even tougher to beat. Robinson at full throttle on the boards while also being able to make plays on defense. He hasn't exactly shown that yet with the Celtics, but if he just needs time to get in-game shape, once that player shows up, Boston could unlock a new level.
No one should complain about a 4-1 start, especially when that one loss was against a titan like Detroit. But if Robinson finds his stride in due time, it only helps get closer to playing the truly flawless basketball they want to play.
Robinson's struggles haven't hurt Boston
Robinson has made the impact the Celtics wanted him to, but for the time being, that hasn't really been a problem. Boston is on a four-game winning streak, and they are still playing pretty excellent basketball. It's helped that they have gone up against Brooklyn and Chicago over the past few games, but Robinson has not held the team back.
It also shows that the Celtics are quite resilient. For how bad Robinson has been, Neemias Queta and Luka Garza have kept proving they are good enough to play. They, too, have their warts, but they still fit with this team.
Even if Robinson was seen as an upgrade over them, it's not like Boston can't cover for him as he continues to acclimate. His struggles should not be ignored, but the Celtics have the roster to overcome the problems until the player they had in mind shows up. It might not be tomorrow, and it might not even be until the new calendar year, but fans should still believe he's on his way.
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