New York Knicks rim-runner and elite rim protector Mitchell Robinson has been cleared to return to the court for Sunday’s matchup against the Sixers.
After practice on Saturday, Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau gave reporters an update on the big man’s progress.
“He’s getting close,” Thibodeau said. “He’s been cleared, so he’s done more. We want to see how he responds after the contact, and the conditioning piece is important too. But he’s been cleared from a physical standpoint.”
The Knicks will remain cautious with their 22-year-old defensive anchor who has been officially upgraded to questionable for Sunday’s rematch against the Philadelphia 76ers. It won’t be easy to keep Robinson off the court, though, because he’s itching to make his return. He made that clear after Saturday’s practice.
Even so, Thibodeau won’t rush Robinson back into the starting lineup considering how impactful Nerlens Noel has been in his absence. He did make clear, though, that Robinson would eventually return to the starting lineup.
“I want to see how that goes,” Thibodeau said. “There’s great versatility there. Eventually, he’ll get back to starting. Whether that happens right away or down the road… I’m comfortable with both guys in that role. And I’m really comfortable with Taj Gibson as well. That gives us great depth at that position.”
According to the New York Post, Robinson’s road back to full-strength could take longer than other injuries after breaking the fourth metacarpal in his right hand. That hand specializes in swatting shots, so he’ll have to do so with caution when he returns.
Confidence on the Upswing
These Knicks don’t make excuses, even with the influx of injuries. RJ Barrett thinks they have enough to win every night.
“We’re feeling confident, always. We just gotta go out there and try to outwork other teams,” Barrett said. “We have enough to win. Just like we did against the Magic, I think we can do that every night.”
Nonetheless, Barrett knows what Robinson brings to the table when fully healthy. His skill set is definitely missed on the court.
“He catches so many lobs, gets so many rebounds, blocks so many shots. He’s very athletic, makes some crazy plays out there. We miss his presence,” Barrett said.
Playoff Resilience
Coach Thibodeau has had his eyes set on the playoffs all season. Though the playoffs are a different animal, the shortened season allows the Knicks to rematch teams they just faced, similar to the postseason.
“You try to take something from every game. And I think we have seen more of that. The situation where you’re playing the same opponent in close proximity to the previous time… It’s similar to a playoff situation,” Thibodeau said.
The Knicks face the Philadelphia 76ers tomorrow night at The Garden, who they narrowly lost to on Tuesday. Expect coach Thibs and the squad to adjust to the mistakes from their last matchup with Philly and come out with a W, just as if it were the playoffs. A Robinson return would make that much easier.
