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Mitchell Robinson’s Struggles Force Celtics To Rethink His Role
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- Mitchell Robinson’s Struggles Force Celtics To Rethink His Role
Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
The Boston Celtics are sitting at 5-2, but the math behind the wins is ugly. Mitchell Robinson, the big man they signed to fix the glass, is the problem. He is averaging just 1.8 offensive rebounds per game, a number that is lower than Mario Hezonja's, per Sports Illustrated . The team paid him to dominate the paint.
Robinson looks slow and out of shape, and the numbers prove it. According to Hardwood Houdini , the Celtics have a net rating of -35.1 when he is on the floor, but they jump to +16 without him.
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The Offense Grinds to a Halt
The team's offense is stuck in the mud whenever Robinson touches the ball. Per Hardwood Houdini, their offensive rating drops to 97.1 with him in the game, which would be the worst in the entire NBA. When he sits, that rating soars to 123.5, the best mark in the league. These are not small margins; they are massive holes in the plan.
Coach Joe Mazzulla tried to explain the shift in strategy after the loss to the Rockets. "We have him a little bit further away from the rim, setting screens and playmaking for us on the perimeter as part of our offense," Mazzulla said, according to Sports Illustrated. But the execution is failing. Robinson admits he is lost too, telling reporters, "I don't even know bro, to be honest," per Sports Illustrated.
A Deal That Is Failing Fast
A guaranteed three-year, $47 million contract marks this as year one, yet the return is non-existent. Hardwood Houdini reported that Robinson played 15 minutes against Houston and looked like he played five too many. That exact margin defined the Celtics' loss in a game where he posted -16. The energy is gone, and the conditioning is clearly lacking.
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Robinson knows he needs to fix this fast. "I know I gotta figure it out soon, though. So I don't know," he said, per Sports Illustrated. The front office has already moved on, pulling the plug on him as a starter and promoting Neemias Queta back to the opening lineup. Survival is possible for the team thanks to its depth, yet he cannot be on the floor right now.
