Mitchell Robinson

Knicks’ Mitchell Robinson posts vaguely targeted Instagram story after tough loss to Golden State

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One of the Knicks‘ biggest problems this year is the lack of a scoring big man, going with a traditional strategy at the five, including Mitchell Robinson and Nerlens Noel.

Both of their primary centers are known for their rebounding and defending, but the Knicks had big hopes for Robinson coming off a season struck with injury, including a fractured foot and hand. Unfortunately, the 23-year-old center has failed to take a significant jump in production on both sides of the ball.

In fact, Robinson has seen a decrease in the number of statistics, including points, blocks, and even rebounds, compared to his 2020–21 season, showcased by a similar sample size at this point the season.

After adding a significant amount of muscle to provide more physicality inside, Robinson has dealt with stamina and fatigue issues. His inability to remain potent and aggressive on the court has become a liability at times, something he has mentioned in recent days.

However, after the Knicks’ resilient loss to the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday evening, Robinson posted a vaguely targeted Instagram story. Some believe it is aimed at free-agent acquisition Evan Fournier, who has provided little to nothing defensively and has been incredibly consistent with his shooting.

Robinson specifically mentioned running for cardio and playing help defense, which could be a statement from head coach Tom Thibodeau and what the team needs to improve on, or specifically what the coaches are telling him.

With the team losing seven of their last eight games and four consecutive, it is possible Robinson could be on his way out via trade at the deadline in a few months. The front office has been connected to a variety of players, including Ben Simmons of the Philadelphia 76ers and Myles Turner of the Indiana Pacers.

One way or another, Robinson has put himself in a place to be traded, especially after his failure to take a step forward this season. The Knicks need another scoring threat inside who can also shoot from range, suggesting Robinson is a liability on offense. New York doesn’t necessarily need him as a transition player, given Obi Toppin’s rise and incredible athleticism on dunks.

Unless Mitchell can elevate his game to a level we haven’t seen before, the front office will likely include him in a trade if they manage to execute one at the deadline this year.

Knicks’ tough loss to Raptors magnifies one of their weakest links

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Forget about Julius Randle’s missed three-pointer. Forget about RJ Barrett’s miss at the buzzer.

The New York Knicks could have completed their 20-point comeback if only they secured the long rebound, which led to Gary Trent, Jr.’s backbreaking triple.

That shot swung the momentum and the lead back to the Raptors as they escaped with a hard-fought 90-87 win against a Knicks team that showed great resolve after another poor start.

“The second shot hurt us,” New York coach Tom Thibodeau said. “It was a shame not to come out of here with a win, but the way we started the game really hurt us.”

The same issue plagued the Knicks at the start of the game. They dug a 20-point hole in the first quarter as they gave up five more rebounds to the Raptors and four turnovers. Toronto took advantage and cashed in with a combined 11 points on transition and off turnovers. It didn’t help that the Raptors shot 5 of 9 3s and took seven more free throws.

“So we got into a big hole and had a fight,” Thibodeau said. “And then we downsized to get more shooting onto the floor and then the rebounding hurt us in the end.”

After Obi Toppin missed two consecutive three-pointers in the fourth quarter, Thibodeau decided to pull him out. By the time Evan Fournier subbed Toppin, the Knicks’ energetic second-year forward had already logged in his first career double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds in 24 minutes, all career-highs. But his missed shots were a sign of exhaustion after playing straight from the final 2:12 of the third quarter up to the 3:40 mark of the fourth quarter. That was more than 10 minutes straight of running up and down the court.

Thibodeau’s tactical adjustment to counter the Raptors’ zone defense down the stretch backfired as the small-ball lineup on the floor got outrebounded in the most crucial time. The Knicks’ closing lineup of Derrick Rose, Alec Burks, Evan Fournier, Barrett, and Randle outscored the Raptors, 10-6, but gave up two crucial offensive rebounds in the most pivotal play of the game.

“You can’t take off, you can’t stand and stare. You got to turn and check,” Thibodeau said. “Because of the way people shoot, there are going to be a lot of long rebounds. That’s your guards’ responsibility but oftentimes you see offenses are inverted where the big guys are out. And so you have to find a body. That’s what we didn’t do. That has to be corrected.”

But the film tells otherwise.

Rose, Burks, and Barrett all found a body to box out after Trent, Jr.’s first three-point attempt hit the back iron. But they could only do so much against 6-8 Pascal Siakam, 6-7 Scottie Barnes, and 6-9 Chris Boucher. Randle missed the rebound because he went too deep, and Siakam tapped the ball out to Fred Van Vleet, who missed another 3-point attempt. Barnes got the long rebound from the left elbow and passed it to Van Vleet, who quickly swung it back to Trent, Jr. for his redemption shot.

The Raptors grabbed the lead, 89-87, and never relinquished it.

“We outrebounded them but we gave up costly ones when it counted the most,” Thibodeau said.

The Knicks won the battle of the boards overall, 55-48, and had two more offensive rebounds than the Raptors. Two offensive rebounds cost them the game. Even if Thibodeau can correct the Knicks’ gang rebounding deficiency, it will just be a band-aid solution. It’s not that the Knicks guards lacked the effort and awareness to box out. But the reality is, the Knicks’ inability to field a rebounding big man who can also be a threat against the zone defense is the biggest weakness of the current roster.

Even with Nerlens Noel and Mitchell Robinson not at full health, the Knicks are still among the top 10 rebounding teams in the NBA. Last season, they finished tied for eighth with 45.1 per game. After Friday night’s loss in Toronto, the Knicks are ninth with 45.7 rebounds per game.

Noel and Robinson only played a combined 35 minutes and 15 seconds on the floor against the Raptors due to lingering health and conditioning issues. They produced 10 points and 10 rebounds combined. But even when they are healthy, they don’t possess a decent outside shot or even a midrange jumper that can keep the defense honest.

Toppin can grow into that role if he develops a consistent outside shot. But until that happens, they need outside help.

If the Knicks are to salvage this season, point guard won’t be the priority at the trade deadline. A big man who can space the floor on offense and be a decent pick-and-roll defender and rim protector should be their top target. That way, they can optimize Randle as a bully point forward next to Burks. A floor-spacing center will unclog the paint for Randle and even for Barrett to attack the rim rather than settle for long jumpers.

Follow this writer on Twitter: @alderalmo

Knicks: Thibodeau’s masterstroke produces Robinson’s masterclass

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New York coach Tom Thibodeau looked like a genius after another tweak in the lineup led to a rousing Knicks win on the road.

Mitchell Robinson played with an edge in his first game since being yanked out of the starting lineup. Robinson produced his fourth double-double of the season and his best game since the opening night. He had 11 points and 14 rebounds, eight coming off the offensive glass. His activity on defense — two steals and three blocks — helped the Knicks edge out the San Antonio Spurs, 11-7 in transition points. The Spurs came into the game averaging a sixth league-best 14.6 fastbreak points.

“I need to build that flame back before I broke my hand and my foot. You know, trying to get back to myself,” said Robinson, who embraced his new role as he works his way back into shape.

Robinson entered halfway through the first quarter and quickly made his presence felt. Fresh off the bench, he quickly grabbed two offensive rebounds.

“As soon as I came in, I was happy coming off the bench and getting out there. I had a smile on my face. I just want to goddamn hoop,” Robinson said.

A couple of minutes later, he stole the ball and blocked a Spurs’ shot. His first basket came at the 1:30 mark of the opening quarter in a classic Robinson shot — a putback. He crashed the floor on the way down but quickly picked himself up and sprinted back to defense.

“There’s no substitute for hustle,” Thibodeau said. “Hustle plays can change things for you.”

Those energy plays from a fresh Robinson sparked the Knicks to snap out of a three-game skid. The second unit with Robinson was +10.6 in 72 possessions entering the game, according to Cleaning The Glass. The Knicks’ bench outscored their Spurs’ counterpart by 10.

Thibodeau was impressed with Robinson’s play, especially his defense against Spurs’ pick and roll.

“His activity, high energy, and focus. [The Spurs] were very good at executing pick and roll. They put you in tough positions and it requires you to be disciplined and read the ball correctly. I thought he was terrific,” Thibodeau said of Robinson. “And the second, third effort protecting the rim, making his decisions at the appropriate time and the offensive rebounding was huge.”

Thibodeau’s decision to insert Noel in the starting unit isn’t a knock on Robinson. It was meant to help Robinson work on his conditioning without the pressure of matching up against starting centers around the league. Robinson viewed the demotion as hitting two birds in one stone.

“I’m still getting my conditioning in and also like helping the team,” Robinson said. “With them running, it really pushes me to run too. So that helps a lot [with my conditioning].”

Nerlens Noel only had two points as a starter, but it didn’t matter as RJ Barrett, Julius Randle, and Alec Burks combined for 65 points. Noel did the little things and dirty stuff. He grabbed nine rebounds and dished out three assists, and set screens.

Robinson couldn’t care less who starts between him and Noel.

“I just wanted to go out there and play hard regardless. We just needed to start to win. That’s what we were all talking about, so we came out with a different approach,” Robinson said.

Thibodeau view both Robinson and Noel in the same light.

“Both of those guys are invaluable to us,” Thibodeau said. “We learned that last year. Mitch was playing great prior to his injury and then Nerlens stepped in and he killed it the whole second half of the season. So we feel strongly about both guys. So we just wanted a different look and those guys are interchangeable.”

Robinson, Noel, Taj Gibson, and Jericho Sims have a strong bond. They work out together, and Thibodeau added: “They’re all willing to help each other.”

That support system had helped Robinson survive two serious injuries. Before his first injury last season, Robinson was ascending as one of the most promising young big men in the league. He averaged 8.4 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 1.6 blocks per game in 26 starts before breaking his right hand. He led the league in field goal percentage with 74.2% in the previous season, breaking Wilt Chamberlain’s single-season record.

“Before I broke my hand, I was in pretty good shape,” Robinson said.

Robinson wasn’t lying. He was on his way to one of his best games with 10 points and 14 rebounds in 20 minutes in the first half when he suffered a fractured right hand late in the second quarter against the Wizards.

“I kind of need to get back to playing like that, with that edge,” he said.

Robinson got it back with the Knick bench mob. Thibodeau optimized his minutes on the floor. Robinson played less but produced more.

When asked about how Robinson took his decision, Thibodeau responded in jest: “Cartwheels.”

Thibodeau should be the one doing cartwheels after another masterstroke that led to Robinson’s masterclass off the bench.

“The thing is we’ve got a great group of guys. And look, this is the challenge of every team for every season is to figure it out, to solve problems,” Thibodeau said. “So [you do] whatever is best for the team.”

Just when the world starts to cave in, Thibodeau keeps on finding an ace up his sleeve to keep the Knicks afloat. He’s starting to figure out his reconfigured team. It helps that his players are receptive to the tough decisions he made in the past couple of weeks.

Robinson gleaned on Kemba Walker’s professionalism in dealing with his demotion.

“I’ve said before that we’ve got a number of guys who are coming off the bench that are probably starters in other places. And then we got some starters that are not getting really starters minutes, but they’re sacrificing their minutes,” Thibodeau said.

“So everyone is sacrificing something, and we have some guys right now who aren’t in the rotation that are good players. To be a good team, you need that type of sacrifice. Everyone has to put the team first.”

Thibodeau solved another Knicks puzzle with Robinson’s muscle and hustle. There’s no telling this would be the last. But Thibodeau seems up to the task.

Follow this writer on Twitter: @alderalmo

Knicks: Fit-again RJ Barrett returns to routine and gets rhythm back

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RJ Barrett returned to his old routine of extra shooting at night, and his shots started to fall again.

Barrett snapped out of his shooting funk and spurred the New York Knicks to get back on track with a 121-109 win over San Antonio Spurs Tuesday night on the road.

The win ended a three-game slide as the Knicks improved to 7-4 on the road. They returned to .500 with an even 12-12 record.

Barrett had a lot to do with it.

After a string of five cold-shooting games, Barrett fired a game-high 32 points built around a career-high seven three-pointers. He was aggressive from the opening tip with no signs of what he described as an annoying stomach bug that kept him out of the gym for several days.

“I was really down for a couple of weeks. I’m just feeling better now, being able to get back to the gym. It was great, and then to have a game like today, it felt really good,” Barrett said.

After the Knicks’ road win in Atlanta 12 days ago, Barrett revealed he started to get sick and had to throw up multiple days. He tried to give it a go in Brooklyn three nights later, but he did not last past nine minutes as he went back and forth to the locker room to throw up. Barrett missed the next game (against Chicago at home), his first DNP since his rookie year.

New York coach Tom Thibodeau, whose Saturday comments were taken out of context and became the talk of the town, described Barrett as terrific against the Spurs. The Knicks’ third-year wing scattered 19 points in the first half and made his first seven shots from downtown.

“He’s feeling better, so we start with that,” Thibodeau said. “He was knocked down pretty good and not feeling well. He’s back in the gym, putting in a lot of extra work. He’s grooving his shot. When he grooves his shot, we know he’s going to make it. It’s really that simple.”

It was Barrett’s third 30-point game in his career, and the Knicks are 3-0 in those games. His hot shooting rubbed off on the whole team. The Knicks shot 18 of 38 from the three-point zone.

The 21-year old Barrett said he did some extra shooting in the gym with a couple of his teammates on the eve of the match upon landing in San Antonio.

“I think you get into a rhythm by your routine. When your routine is a little off, you’re trying to figure it out. So just getting into that consistent routine every day. That’s how you get it done,” he said.

He was in rhythm all night. With the Spurs’ defense focused on Julius Randle, Barrett took over. The Knicks’ third-year wing went 7 for 12 from the floor in the first half and 4 for 8 in the second half.

“I think the defense was really focused on Julius a lot. They’re doubling him every time he had the ball, and we just moved it, and I was able to knock them down,” Barrett said.

It wasn’t only Barrett who had a redemption game. Mitchell Robinson played with an edge after his demotion to the bench.

The 23-year old Knicks center collected his fourth double-double of the season. He finished with 11 points, 14 rebounds, two steals, and three blocks in just 22 minutes.

Another lineup shakeup bore fruit for the Knicks.

“Today, it worked,” Barrett said. “We’ll see how it is moving forward, but whoever starts and come off the bench, we’re rocking with it.”

Barrett is hopeful they could carry the momentum Wednesday night against the Indiana Pacers in the second night of a back-to-back set on the road.

Follow this writer on Twitter: @alderalmo

Knicks: Thibodeau’s next lineup shakeup might be Noel for Robinson

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Myles Turner, Nikola Vucevic, and Nikola Jokic have shot a combined 19 of 35 from deep against the New York Knicks this season. The Knicks’ defense, especially Mitchell Robinson’s, has been vulnerable to pick and pop bigs to start the season.

As Tom Thibodeau hinted at another lineup shakeup three games after Kemba Walker was yanked out of the rotation, it’s increasingly likely it will involve Robinson. But Thibodeau isn’t pinning down the blame on Robinson for their defensive deficiencies against stretch bigs.

“The interesting thing is there were stretches that I thought he moved really well. I think the conditioning aspect is still something that he’s working on. There have been some really good moments and some moments that haven’t been as good as we would like, but that could be said for our whole team,” Thibodeau said.

Per Cleaning the Glass, the Knicks starting lineup since Alec Burks replaced Kemba Walker has an efficiency differential (the difference between points scored per possession and points allowed per possession) of -10.5, a marked improvement from -15.9 when Walker was still a starter. But when Noel replaced Robinson in that group, the Knicks had a +13.1 efficiency differential.

Projected to be eased into the rotation after his prolonged absence from a broken foot injury, Robinson admirably stepped into the starting lineup immediately to start the season as Noel battled an assortment of injuries.

With Noel healthy again, it appears Thibodeau will revert to his original plan.

“I’m getting tired real quick,” Robinson said after Tuesday’s shootaround in San Antonio. “I run for about six or seven minutes, and then boom — I’m gassed. So it’s something I need to work on really bad.”

Thibodeau said he’s still mulling about lineup change and still figuring out his recalibrated team. He’s hopeful it will work out like last year when they started slow and peaked in the second half of the season.

“[I’m] Just thinking about everything,” Thibodeau said. “Like I said, we just want to go step by step, practice well, and have a good shootaround. Be ready to play. We got to get going.”

Robinson, though, sounded like he’s resigned to the fact that he’s coming off the bench in the foreseeable future after multiple Knicks beat reporters on hand in San Antonio have noted that Noel was wearing starters’ practice kit during Tuesday’s shootaround.

“Well, for me, it’s not really different [coming off the bench]. Either way, you could play,” he said. “Let’s see how it goes. I just have to continue to work.”

While Noel played splendidly during the Knicks’ late push last season to snatch the fourth seed in the East, Thibodeau noted that Robinson was playing great before he got hurt.

“The fact of the matter is he was out so long,” Thibodeau said. “Basically, he got cleared right before we started training camp, and even then, he couldn’t do the entire practice. So, it’s been a work in progress.”

Robinson ramped up his conditioning activity during the summer by doing pool and bike exercises and spending more time in the gym. But without the benefit of physical contact scrimmage during the training camp, he ballooned to 280 lbs. with unwanted muscle. Robinson said he’s shed 15 lbs since the summer and now weighs 265 lbs.

“You can go to a pool, you could be on a bike, you can do all that stuff, but it’s not the same as body on body. There’s a physicality to it. It’s a lot different,” Thibodeau said. “He’s doing a lot of extra [physical conditioning activities] right now, which is good. He’ll get there.”

Robinson is frustrated with his lack of stamina. It will take time before he can get back to peak conditioning. A backup role should ease the pressure as he works his way back.

“I wish I could jump right into it and be who I was before the injury,” Robinson said. “Basically, I’m just gonna work and get back to my old self.”

Follow this writer on Twitter: @alderalmo

Should the Knicks consider trading Mitchell Robinson at the deadline?

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With the New York Knicks dipping below .500 on the season, management could be looking to make big changes ahead, specifically at the trade deadline as they potentially target a star player to pair with Julius Randle.

However, the team still needs to correct several issues within their own ranks, one of them being the inconsistent play of Mitchell Robinson this season. Robinson, who is preparing to turn 24 in a few months, is averaging 6.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game.

Robinson is averaging his lowest points total in his career through 20 games this season and has seen a considerable regression compared to his sophomore campaign back in 2020. During that season, Robinson averaged 9.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game.

The biggest negative that Robinson presents is poor health, dealing with a myriad of injuries this season, including ankle, hip flexor, and primary lower-body issues.

While most fans love Mitch and what he brings to the table, including physicality and blocking proficiency, he’s essentially a nonexistent scorer that relies on put-back dunks as his catalyst on offense.

Seeing some of the more sufficient scoring centers in the league should indicate that a change might be necessary for the future. The Knicks have been tantalized by players like Myles Turner, Nikola Vucevic, and Nikola Jokic in recent days, showcasing what scoring big men can provide for a team.

It is clear that Robinson isn’t contributing a ton toward the team’s defensive efficiency, given the Knicks currently rank 23rd in defensive rating at 109.8. In addition, they’ve dropped to 17th in total rebounds per game but host the third-best interior defense in basketball.

Nonetheless, teams have tortured them from the perimeter, driving into the paint and kicking the ball out to the corners for easy shots. While Robinson isn’t responsible for this, the communication with his teammates has been poor.

The question is, should tom Thibodeau and the front office consider Robinson a trade piece of the deadline? Given he’s in the final year of his rookie contract, earning 1.8 million this season.

The only way this makes sense is if the Knicks pursue a scoring big man with solid defensive attributes. Of course, acquiring a player like Myles Turner would be a luxury, but it would also cost them young talent they may not be willing to part with.

However, based on Robinson’s growth and consistency issues, the Knicks may be better off utilizing him as a trade piece instead of banking on him as a long-term solution given stamina struggles and inefficient scoring.

Alternatively, Robinson gives the team much-needed physicality inside and still has plenty of untapped potential to exploit. Robinson has seen an increase in field goals made unassisted this season, hitting 42.9% compared to his 37.4% last year. An increase in muscle mass has hurt his stamina and effort at times, but that theoretically should improve as the season progresses.

Do you think the Knicks should consider trading away Mitchell Robinson? Comment here!

Knicks facing big-man issues with Noel and Robinson injured

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The New York Knicks have been relatively healthy this season, despite the center position where they’ve been dealing with a few issues. Veteran center Nerlens Noel missed the first few games of the season due to a sore knee, and after twisting it quite violently several games ago, he hasn’t made a return since. Noel looked like his normal self upon his return, guarding the perimeter valiantly and providing elite defense in the paint.

The Knicks signed Noel to a three-year extension this past off-season. He averaged 1.8 steals, 1.3 blocks, and 6.8 rebounds in four games before going down once again. The team has relied heavily on Mitchell Robinson to pick up the slack, coming off a fractured foot in which required months of rehabilitation.

However, Robinson left Monday night’s game against the Indiana Pacers prematurely due to a sore left ankle. Head coach Tom Thibodeau seems to think it isn’t anything severe but more precautionary, which would be an excellent development for the team.

“We’ll see where he’s at,’’ Tom Thibodeau said. “Don’t think it’s serious.’’

Despite Robinson escaping without any significant damage, he could miss the team’s next game against the Orlando Magic on Wednesday at 7:30 PM.

The Magic are off to a tough start this year but earned their first win of the season against New York several weeks ago. This might be the best game for Robinson to miss, as he works his way through the pain and begins to leave his foot injury behind. Thibodeau indicated he is still dealing with a bit of discomfort, so he is a work in progress.

“He’s still working his way through it,’’ Thibodeau said. “Obviously he was out a long period of time. He’s a work in progress in terms of conditioning. He’s banged up a little bit. That’s all normal. If you’re a pro athlete, that’s what happens.’’

In the meantime, expect Taj Gibson to earn ample playing time, as he featured in 29 minutes against Indiana in the win.

Gibson is a reliable veteran who exerts maximum effort. While his rebounding can be spotty at times, his perimeter defense and aggression give him substantial value as a reserve. Thibodeau may try to develop a few player combinations to try and mask the loss of Noel and Robinson in the short term, potentially pairing Julius Randle with Obi Toppin to maximize their height.

However, it is not out of the question that rookie Jericho Sims could earn more minutes, given his athleticism. His defensive position has been relatively poor this season, but that was expected given his lack of experience.

Knicks News: Robinson injury update, Quickley flashes starter-level play in win over Indiana

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The New York Knicks emerged victorious against the Indiana Pacers on Monday night, scoring 92 points and giving up 84. While this wasn’t exactly the offensive master-class they had hoped for, holding the Pacers to 84 points was simply a magisterial performance on defense. A feisty Knicks unit held Indiana to just 10 points in the fourth quarter, including field-goal-less in the last seven minutes.

However, it wasn’t all positives for New York, who watched center, Mitchell Robinson leave the game early due to ankle soreness. Taj Gibson stepped in to fill the void, playing 29 minutes and contributing fantastic energy and defense for the remainder of the game.

Robinson has been dealing with a variety of issues, including a hip flexor injury. He has missed just one game this year on November 8 against the Philadelphia 76ers, and there’s no telling if he will miss any more time with the new ankle issue. After missing more than half of last season with a fractured foot and hand, the Knicks desperately need him to be more reliable.

Hopefully, Nerlens Noel can return from a right knee injury he sustained several nights ago. In the meantime, New York will have to rely on Gibson and rookie Jericho Sims, but they have been rolling with Obi Toppin and Julius Randle at times to help protect the rim. They don’t offer the same defensive protection in the paint, so getting their big-men healthy is a priority.

The Knicks are seeing the development of Immanuel Quickley blossom before their eyes:

If not for a tremendous performance for Immanuel Quickley against Indiana, the Knicks might’ve dropped the third consecutive game. Quickley scored 16 points over 23 minutes, hitting all four of his three-point attempts. He also collected five rebounds and an assist.

Quickley is showcasing his development over the past few games, posting a high of 18 against Milwaukee last Wednesday and a low of just nine against Charlotte. He’s shooting 32.7% from deep this year due to a slow start, but he’s ranged from a low of 40% to a high of 100% over the past five games.

As long as Quickley continues to play aggressive defense and hit his shots, Tom Thibodeau will be forced to feature him more, which is a best-case scenario. Considering New York’s poor perimeter defense this year, Quickley has provided energy and effort frequently to give his team an advantage on both sides of the ball. The Kentucky product made it a priority to improve his defense this past off-season, and it is paying off in dividends early in the year.

While Quickley lacks size and vertical athleticism, he has developed a fantastic floater and uses his agility and speed to put defenders off balance. The growth of his offensive capabilities are on full display, and as his confidence grows, his production should follow. Defensively, he’s been tasked with putting pressure on the perimeter and full-court which has done him well.

Cole Anthony displays New York toughness in Magic’s stunner over Knicks

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New York Knicks basketball under Tom Thibodeau is all about toughness and resiliency. But it was Cole Anthony, an Archbishop Molloy High School product, who displayed those traits to rally a young Orlando Magic team against them.

Anthony scored a season-high 29 points and grabbed a career-high 16 rebounds for his first career double-double to help the Magic stun his hometown Knicks, 110-104, Sunday night in the Garden.

Anthony grew up in New York, where his father, Greg Anthony, played his first four seasons in the NBA.

“I was happy to be home. Hostile environment. I came in and I got the dub,” Anthony said after leading the Magic to their first win of the season, exacting revenge of their embarrassing 121-96 beatdown in Orlando at the hands of the Knicks last Friday. “Good times!”

Good times indeed for the Anthony family.

Anthony played an inspired game in front of his family and friends. He gifted his mother, Crystal McCrary, who celebrated her 52nd birthday, with one of the finest performances in his young NBA career.

When he was not busy scoring, Anthony was a daredevil attacking the teeth of the Knicks defense and kept on finding his open teammates. He added eight assists and led the Magic’s comeback from 13 points down in the first half.

The 21-year old Anthony and the 30-year old veteran Terrence Ross dealt the biggest blows that knocked the Knicks out.

Anthony torched the Knicks in the first half with 21 points on 7-of-11 shooting and five threes. Ross caught fire in the fourth quarter, scoring all of his 22 points as the Magic outscored the Knicks, 36-24.

The once-vaunted Knicks’ defense was nowhere to be found with their cold shooting night zapping out their energy.

After making nine of their first 17 three-point attempts, the Knicks missed 27 of their next 31. The shots that buried the Magic in Orlando did not fall in New York. It was the exact opposite of the Knicks’ franchise-record setting 24-of-54 threes two nights ago.

They lived and died with the three-point shot.

“We picked up the ball pressure a little bit understanding who are the [Knicks] shooters, and non-shooters,” said Magic rookie coach Jamahl Mosley. “Our guys did a good job recognizing who was where and we flew around the court. We had multiple efforts making sure we contested shots.”

Julius Randle stuffed the stats sheet with monster numbers (30 points and 16 rebounds). But he only shot 8-for-24 from the field. The Magic baited him to beat them one on one. The ploy worked, which kept the rest of the Knicks’ starting unit out of rhythm.

Evan Fournier missed eight of 11 shots. RJ Barrett misfired a dozen of his 17 attempts.

Their usual gunners — Randle, Barrett, Fournier, Walker, Immanuel Quickley, and Alec Burks — were a combined 8-for-37 from downtown.

Only Derrick Rose waxed hot from the outside, hitting 5-of-8 threes. He had 23 points off the bench as the closer again while Walker watched from the bench down the stretch.

After a season-high 34 assists in Orlando, the Knicks did not move the ball well enough to get rhythm shots. They dished out only 20 assists on 37 field goals. They missed a total of 73 attempts overall that doomed them in their first loss of the season.

The Knicks seemed to have just settled after grabbing a 13-point lead, 47-34, on a 15-0 run. They allowed the Magic to creep back into the game and cut their lead down to five, 57-52, at the half.

“We knew (Magic) would play with intensity but we didn’t play with great urgency. We have to have great intensity. In this league, the players are too good. So, if you allow someone to beat you to loose balls, make hustle plays, you’re playing with fire,” Thibodeau lamented.”

The Knicks paid dearly for their lackadaisical effort losing to the third-youngest team in the league. As a consolation, they avoided a double whammy after surviving another Mitchell Robinson injury scare.

Robinson seemed hurt after colliding with Magic rookie Jalen Suggs for a rebound in the third quarter. After the brief scare, Robinson returned to finish the game. He had 10 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks, but he fouled out for the first time since January 26, 2020.

Taj Gibson returned from a two-game paternity leave but hardly impacted the game in 12 minutes as Robinson’s backup. The only impact he did was cut down into Toppin’s minutes. Thibodeau abandoned the small-ball lineup, which worked well in their first two games when Robinson was resting.

Toppin was held to only one field goal — a left-handed alley-oop slam and got abused in the paint. The Brooklyn native only played 12 minutes, his lowest playing time in three games. Toppin, the toast of New York in the last two games, missed his next three shots and ended the game with a whimper.

Instead, the other New Yorker from the opposing team stole the thunder with a homecoming party.

Anthony, selected seven picks later after Toppin in the 2020 NBA Draft, showed out with his game made in New York playgrounds.

Aside from his mother’s birthday, Anthony also drew inspiration from Mosley’s pep talk in their film session Sunday morning.

“It’s more about the resilience that you have to have in these games,” Mosley said. “There was a point when we got down 10, then I think it was Cole [Anthony] who referenced the fact that ‘hey, we talked about that this morning. Down 10, we can’t hang our heads. We got to keep fighting back.’ That’s what we’ve talked about this morning.”

Fight back, they did.

The Magic wiped out a Knicks’ nine-point lead in the second half. In the fourth quarter, their defense held Randle and Barrett to an identical but brutal 2-for-7 shooting.

“All of us were disappointed and we have to do better,” Thibodeau said. “When you lose, the most important thing is to learn and to move it forward.”

So, when the Knicks have their film session on Monday, the view of Anthony, the undersized Magic point guard, outrebounding them would be a painful reminder of their lack of fight in this game.

“Cole (Anthony) came back home and played with that toughness, that confidence, that resilience,” Mosley said. “The one thing that stands out most is his ability to rebound the basketball, and he made the right plays.”

When a reporter asked how a 6-foot-2 guard grabbed 16 rebounds against a big and physical team like the Knicks, Anthony contested that he’s 6-foot-3 before answering the question.

“Rebounding is all about effort. It’s about who wants it,” said a feisty Anthony.

In a game they were not supposed to win, Anthony stood tallest and played with a big heart, usually displayed by his hometown Knicks.

Follow this writer on Twitter: @alderalmo

Knicks center Mitchell Robinson could return Friday against Wizards

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mitchell robinson, knicks

There’s a good chance that Mitchell Robinson could return as early as Friday in New York Knicks‘ final preseason game.

Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said that Robinson is close to being clear for full contact, according to SNY’s Ian Begley.

“Ideally, yes,” Thibodeau told reporters before Wednesday’s game against Detroit when asked if Robinson could play in their final preseason game. “Every day there’s more contact. There’s more to what he’s doing. And then you want to see how he responds the next day.”

Last week, Thibodeau said that Robison was cleared for some contact. But the Knicks have taken a cautious approach to avoid any setback in the 23-year old center’s recovery. Robinson’s physical activity has ramped up in the last week to get him into game shape.

“There’s still the conditioning element of it. And he’s done a lot. He’s come every night. He’s putting a lot of extra work in. So we feel good where he is,” Thibodeau said of Robinson.

It had been more than six months since Robinson underwent successful surgery to repair a broken bone in his right foot.

Meanwhile, Nerlens Noel will miss his third preseason game, but Thibodeau said he’s close to returning from a sore right knee injury. Noel has been a full participant in the Knicks’ practices since their road win in Washington over the weekend.

Noel earlier indicated that it’s more like a hamstring issue than his knee. Kemba Walker was given the night off as the Knicks will play the Pistons that are missing eight players, including top overall pick Cade Cunningham.

Derrick Rose will start in place of Walker.

The Knicks will wrap up their preseason campaign with a rematch against the Wizards on Friday in the Garden before opening their season against Boston Celtics next Wednesday.

Celtics coach Ime Udoka confirmed that Al Horford would be out against the Knicks after testing positive for COVID-19, per ESPN’s Tim Bontemps.

Jaylen Brown also tested positive for COVID-19 earlier, but his status on the opening night is unclear.

Follow this writer on Twitter: @alderalmo