After ankle surgery, Robinson’s defense returns before rebounding
MILWAUKEE — For Mitchell Robinson, the defense is coming back faster than the rebounding.
Offense is a plus, but it isn’t necessarily what the Knicks need from a once spry seven-footer recently returning from December surgery on his left ankle.
Three blocks in Sunday’s victory over the Bucks is what the doctor ordered — and the offensive rebounding, Robinson hopes, is on its way, too.
After all, Robinson was off to a near-historic start on the offensive glass before a stress fracture derailed his season in a Dec. 8 matchup against the Boston Celtics.
The former starting Knicks big man was already an imposing paint presence, shot-blocker and lob finisher before taking yet another leap on the offensive glass this season.
Prior to his injury, Robinson’s average of 5.4 offensive boards per game not only cleared the next best cleanup man (Atlanta’s Clint Capela) by nearly an entire offensive rebound, but it would have put the Knicks big man on pace to finish top-15 all-time in single season offensive rebounding.
Robinson said he’s starting to feel more like himself on defense.
“A little bit, little bit. Just gotta still, now it’s just trusting my foot to be square instead of having it open so dudes just drive by,” he said after Sunday’s victory over the Bucks. “So once I get that I’ll be [OK].”
He can’t explain, however, why the offensive rebounds aren’t coming to him the way they did earlier this season.
“Bro I don’t even know. I cannot even tell you,” he said. “I was good at the beginning. I was out four months. Just I don’t know. I don’t know. I just gotta figure it out and I’m figuring it out while I’m playing.”
Robinson has missed significant time due to injury in all but two of his six NBA seasons He has played in six games since returning to the rotation.
He has not logged more than 20 minutes. Over 86 total minutes, Robinson has recorded 33 total rebounds, six total blocks (though he posted zero blocks in three of the six games) and has scored 23 total points.