Why mess with a good thing?
Time will tell if the New York Knicks are ever able to suit up at full strength this season: the ailing team continues to miss Julius Randle (shoulder) and Mitchell Robinson (ankle) while OG Anunoby's return has been cut short after three games (albeit due to "maintenance" for the elbow ailment that kept him out of the prior 18).
Knicks Movement, a Knicks fan page on Instagram, was one of those dreaming of a full contingent, posting an image of Anunoby, Randle, Robinson, Jalen Brunson, and Donte DiVincenzo and declaring it "the lineup we're all looking forward to seeing." Robinson, however, appeared to have something different in mind.
"(I'd) rather come off the bench," Robinson said in the comment section. "Maybe I can show more."
Robinson, the starting center, is by far the most puzzling of the Knicks' long-term ailments: the longest-tenured Knick has not appeared in a game since Dec. 8, suffering an ankle injury in a loss to Boston.
While some reports labeled Robinson's injury as season-ending, hope for a return sprang when the NBA denied the Knicks a disabled player exception that would've given them back part of his 2023-24 salary. A DPE is only granted if the player in question is out for the season.
Robinson was in the midst of what was likely his best professional season at the time of his injury: he was on historic paces in the offensive rebounding game and averaging a career-best 10.3 total in 21 games, though he yearned for a more consistent role in the Knicks' offense (averaging a career-low 6.2 points). His role in the starting five has been filled by Isaiah Hartenstein, who has hauled in eight a game to set a new career-best of his own.
Despite injuries, Robinson has been a starting lineup staple for New York over the past four years. But having a rebounder of his caliber ... not to mention an expert interior defender ... lingering on the second could be a tremendous, unique x-factor in the Knicks' arsenal as they seek a long-awaited return to the conference final round.
The Robinson bench gambit would also probably preserve the sense of team chemistry the Knicks are trying to build before the playoffs tip off. Not only has Hartenstein (and Precious Achuiwa for that matter) taken over the paint in his absence but the Knicks are a very different team compared to the last group Robinson suited up with. Achuiwa and OG Anunoby came over in a trade with Toronto three weeks after his last appearance while the team also brought in Bojan Bogdanovic and Alec Burks at the trade deadline.
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