Knicks are being rewarded for the pre-deadline trade they never made

Mitchell Robinson’s impact in Game 2 was a strong validation of the Knicks’ decision to hold onto him. Despite missing most of the regular season, his defensive presence, rebounding, and physicality helped tip the scales in a tightly contested matchup against the Celtics. Leon Rose’s strategy to treat Robinson’s return as a “deadline addition” proved wise—sometimes the best move is no move at all.

Exactly—and now in the playoffs, the Knicks are reaping the rewards of having both Robinson and Hartenstein available. Robinson’s Game 2 performance not only energized the team during a critical comeback but also exposed a miscalculation by the Celtics. Their Hack-A-Mitch tactic aimed to neutralize him, but his poise under pressure and ability to stay out of foul trouble flipped that strategy on its head.

That +19 plus/minus in just 22 minutes is massive, especially considering the starters were struggling. His timing, defensive instincts, and rebounding have reminded everyone just how much of a game-changer he can be when healthy.

New York knew Robinson wouldn’t be ready to start the 2024-25 season, so the front office traded for Karl-Anthony Towns. He’s not the rim-protecting, rebounding center that Mitch is, but he elevates the team’s offense. It’s still important to have a guy like Robinson, though.

Boston shot 38.9% (14-of-36) inside the arc during the first two games with Mitch on the floor. The Celtics’ free-throw attempts declined significantly with him in the game (36 vs. 4). The Knicks out-rebounded them with Mitch on the court. New York reshaped its identity with KAT as the starting center, but that doesn’t mean it can’t revert back to the team it was last year with Mitch on the floor.

The Knicks wouldn’t have left TD Garden with a 2-0 lead if it weren’t for Robinson. He was instrumental in the final play of Game 2, switching onto Jayson Tatum. Robinson forced Tatum to go to his left and kept him from driving to the basket. The play resulted in Mikal Bridges blocking a fadeaway Tatum shot attempt.

Wednesday’s game reminded fans how impactful Mitchell Robinson can be. There’s a reason why Boston deployed the hack strategy in Games 1 and 2.