Knicks center Mitchell Robinson has been ruled out for tonight’s game with inflammation in his left ankle and will undergo further testing, writes Mark W. Sanchez of The New York Post. Robinson injured the ankle in the first half Friday at Boston. He had an X-ray – which was negative, according to coach Tom Thibodeau – and was able to play five minutes in the third quarter before sitting out the rest of the game.
Thibodeau didn’t provide any details on the upcoming tests for Robinson and declined to estimate how much time he might miss. “Until we get the report, it’s just speculation,” Thibodeau told reporters.
Robinson posted a message about the injury on Snapchat (Twitter link from New York Basketball), writing, “Been battling stuff my whole life; some days I feel like I take 10 steps ahead, and others feel like I took 20 steps back; even when I do what I’m supposed to god throws these battles at me that feel like they’re unbeatable no matter what I do I know. I shouldn’t be letting this stuff get to my mental but over time it just takes over. Always going to be an uphill battle.”
Injuries have plagued Robinson throughout his career, Sanchez points out, as he has managed to play 72 games only once in his six years in the NBA. He was limited to 59 appearances last season, missing two and a half weeks with a knee injury in November and then undergoing surgery on a fractured right thumb in January, which kept him out for 14 games.
There’s more from New York:
- The outlook is more positive for Jalen Brunson, who suffered an ankle sprain late in Friday’s game and limped off the court, Sanchez adds. Brunson made an appearance Saturday at a Villanova game and appeared to be walking normally. He was able to practice Sunday and Thibodeau expects him to play tonight, tweets Fred Katz of The Athletic.
- Donte DiVincenzo saw a reduced role in the offense as he moved into the starting lineup Friday night, Sanchez adds in a separate story. Spending more time on the court with ball-dominant teammates, DiVincenzo took just six shots and scored six points in 22 minutes. “I didn’t really feel a difference to be honest with you,” he said. “I’m just a basketball player. Put me with any lineup, I’m gonna be me. I’m gonna cut, I’m gonna shoot some shots, I’m gonna play defense. No matter what unit I’m with, that’s who I am and what I’m going to continue to be.”
- There was a lot of talk in the national media this week about the Knicks’ need for a star player, but Steve Popper of Newsday doesn’t believe anyone who might currently be available would make a difference. He questions how Chicago’s Zach LaVine or DeMar DeRozan or even Minnesota’s Karl-Anthony Towns would get their normal usage rate with the current roster in New York.
Truthfully, I’ve had kind of the same feeling as Popper for a while. KAT offers a different offensive skillset from Randle, but they both have a habit of being worse in the clutch, especially in the playoffs. DDR isn’t a bad fit, but he’s not a needle-mover, because he doesn’t enhance the Knick’s strengths or cover their weak points; he’s enhancement by addition rather than multiplication. And LaVine is just straight overrated. Siakam is similar to Randle too, for that matter. Both ball-handling, strong PFs with similar defensive abilities and mediocre shooting.
OG would be a nice fit, but it’s kind of hard to see the value in having him over the combo of Hart and Grimes, that they already have. The Knick’s depth isn’t a problem by itself, it’s just that they aren’t meshing right. It’s not the time for a drastic move yet; still too early. Give it a month to allow the early standings to shake themselves out.
You do know TWolves have best record in NBA.
Donovan Mitchell could be revisited if the Cavs are not looking like contenders at the TD. Trae Young could be avail. Both would require a lot of draft capital no doubt, but just saying they could be targeted.
Caruso, DFS, Royce Oneale all could be potential fits. TD is also a couple months away, injuries do happen. Could be a different landscape for the Knicks or competitors at that time.
Knicks seem reluctant to really go after a big target tho. The draft will come around and they’ll have these middling picks and fans will wonder why they didn’t make a trade.
Trae Young? And what would they do with him? Imagine the heart attacks Thibs would have watching Trae’s version of defense. We’re good with Brunson.
I’ve seen it thrown out there a few times. His version of defense lol.
The current NYK roster is meshing on the court as well as it has for decades. If the record (12-9) pretty much reflects that, especially considering their schedule (they’re 12-4 against the league sans BOS and MIL).
The only possible depth chart “problem” (not really a problem) anyone can say they have is too much depth, which really just refers to having an extra perimeter player that warrants minutes. The only real problem the Knicks have is that their core lacks elite players. But one thing can’t really address the other. Certainly not in the current environment. The dumbest thing a team in their position can do is move around pieces which, when all is said and done, leave them in the same general spot (a core without elite players).
If it turns out this NYK team is better than I think, and it pulls of just short of a championship, then, while I’ll be sad, I’ll certainly be more than happy to admit this post was ill conceived.
There are too many playing time disputes and times where the offense is “Randle has the ball, move” to qualify as well-meshed in my opinion. They aren’t anywhere near as coordinated as they were after the TD last season. And that’s despite generally being healthy until just now, losing Robinson, and with Brunson continuing to play like a perennial All-Star caliber PG. If anything, them being “only” 12-9 is the surprise. They have the ability to mix and match against any team. It just hasn’t worked against stiffer competition like the Bucks and Celtics.
Waiting until a true superstar becomes available is probably their best bet, I agree. It’s just always frustrating to do so. Lots of Knicks fans want them to be like the Yankees of old and try to buy the world.
OK, but meshing on the court is good. The rest is noise to me. The comparison can’t be to the stretch of last season. Of course that’s better than the start of any season. Comparing this team at the same time of the year, they’re operating better. I can guarantee that absent injury or trades they (like every other team) will mesh better as the season rolls on.
You think higher of them than Vegas. the over/under was 45.5 wins. So, even at 12-9, they’re trending above their expectations. But that’s misleading, because they had extra games inserted against MIL and BOS. Brunson has shot great, but his overall play has been uneven relative to last year. Randle being hurt (horrific) to start the year, etc. Barrett missed two stretches of games. Grimes hurt his wrist. The depth and lack of superstars may make it seem like they’ve been healthy.
FWIW, my season long expectations are north of 45.5 wins. I don’t gamble as a rule, and as an even harder rule on my own team. But its the second straight year I am betting over. Last year was a layup (like 38), but this year I think it’s only more likely than not.
Knicks are a top D team. Yet their D let them down against Bucks n Celtics. Knicks can’t get into a run and gun with top teams. Have to tough it out. Manage the game.
Popper also needs to realize that any trade for the players means ruined would require the Knicks to move desired players in return, thus the minutes would be available. It’s not as if the Knicks are getting any of those players mentioned for free, or even straight up for Fournier and draft picks. Players will be involved.
*mentioned, not “means ruined.”
The problem now and always is THIBS his Non creative ways to use this Roster is just going to Repeat. Horrible Coach and please stop calling him a Defensive Guru that title is Fraudulent
In Thibs we Trust ……..
trust me Thibs !!!! Get
DeM DeR to >>>>>>> NY