Mitchell Robinson takes on new role as Celtics face early slump

Mitchell Robinson takes on new role as Celtics face early slump

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Robinson’s Rebound: A New Role for Boston’s Center

Seven games into the season, the Boston Celtics have their first big storyline, and it’s centered on their big free agent acquisition. Mitchell Robinson, the team’s key offseason signing, is struggling to find his footing, leading to some early-season buyer’s remorse from fans. His numbers are down across the board, a stark contrast to the impact he made last season, CelticsBlog reported.

For a player who led the entire league in offensive rebounds per 36 minutes last season, the start has been a source of frustration. Head coach Joe Mazzulla has acknowledged the slump, pointing to a significant change in the center’s role as the primary reason for the dip in production. It’s a process, Mazzulla says, not a result.

“A little bit of it is it’s a process vs. a result thing,” Mazzulla explained. “You have to leverage and appreciate that he’s very hard on himself. The standard is really high for him and you and you enjoy that. At the same time, nothing is ever as good as it seems and as bad as it seems.”

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The “Crash Rate” and a New Playbook

The Celtics are asking Robinson to do more than just rebound. This season, he is tasked with setting screens further from the rim, handling the ball, and making plays—responsibilities that go beyond the singular focus of his nine-year championship run with the New York Knicks. This expanded playbook, Mazzulla notes, has taken longer than expected to click.

One of the key metrics Mazzulla uses to judge Robinson’s effort is “crash rate,” a statistic that measures how often he attacks the glass. Against the Milwaukee Bucks, Robinson demonstrated his relentless pursuit of the ball, grabbing six rebounds in just the first five minutes of play, including three on the offensive end. The process was there, even if the results hadn’t always translated into successful putbacks.

“The other night, he had the highest crash rates on our team that we’ve had,” Mazzulla said. “He just wasn’t able to come up with a few of those. At the same time, he’s playing a different role. He’s playing a role that positively impacts the other players around him.”

The Garza Experiment

In an effort to ignite Robinson, Mazzulla turned to an unconventional pairing. Before last night’s game, he started Neemias Queta and brought Robinson off the bench alongside a surprising partner: Luka Garza. The double-big duo immediately produced, creating a dynamic that Mazzulla compared to pairing Robinson with a perimeter-shooting big man.

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With Robinson anchoring the paint and Garza operating from the high post, the two activated what Mazzulla called their “WonderTwins powers.” By halftime, the results were undeniable. Robinson was a plus-13 on the court, hauling in nine rebounds (five offensive), while Garza knocked down all three of his three-point attempts to score a team-high 11 points.

It was a stark contrast to their previous limited time together on the floor. Before this game, the two had played just two minutes total as a duo. But in that short span, Mazzulla may have found a solution that allows Robinson to be his dominant self while opening up the floor for his teammates.

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“Mitch’s process towards rebounding has been consistent with us throughout the season. Honestly, he played great tonight,” Mazzulla said. “It wasn’t so much tactically some of the things that we did. It was just we saw the best version of him.”

Teammate Paul George, who has faced Robinson countless times, sees the adjustment from a different perspective. He pointed out that the Celtics are asking for more from their center than his previous team ever did.

“It was just a different situation for him in New York,” George offered. “Here, we actually need him to do a little bit more and want him to do a little bit more and kinda explore that. He’s just going through that — a different playstyle for him. He’ll get there.”

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The Waiting Game for Team Identity

Mazzulla remains in an experimental phase with his roster. The Celtics are just 6-2, wrapping up their eighth game, and the coach has consistently stated that a team’s true identity doesn’t reveal itself until around game 10 to 20. This means Robinson’s role—and possibly his starting spot—is far from set in stone.

For what it’s worth, the lineup featuring Robinson as the starting center has been statistically elite. The unit sports a 16.5 net rating, outscoring opponents by 16.5 points per 100 possessions. That offensive rating of 116 is on par with some of the league’s most potent opening fives, including the Philadelphia 76ers’ starting lineup of Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Jaylen Brown, LeBron James, and Joel Embiid.

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The early-season struggles haven’t shaken Mazzulla’s confidence in his player. He has called Robinson one of the smartest players he has ever coached and one of the best rebounders of all-time. For now, he’s urging patience.

“He’s one of the best rebounders of all-time, so any chance there’s a little bit of a dip, we don’t have to hit the panic button,” Mazzulla stated. “His process has been great and he’ll continue to get better and better for us.”

As the Celtics hit the road this month, all eyes will be on Robinson to see if this new role and the Garza pairing are the keys to unlocking his championship-level talent once again.

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