After alternating between Mitchell Robinson and Josh Hart in the starting five during training camp practices, Knicks head coach Mike Brown opted to start Robinson alongside Karl-Anthony Towns in the team’s preseason opener on Thursday, writes Stefan Bondy of The New York Post (subscription required).
It was a move that “gained momentum” during training camp, Bondy writes, and one that paid off in the Knicks’ first game of October. Robinson racked up a game-high 16 boards despite not playing in the second half. New York led by 10 points at the half and ended up registering a 99-84 victory.
“He was phenomenal,” Brown said of Robinson. “Played 18 minutes, had 16 rebounds — 11 of them defensively — but more importantly for a big, he had three deflections. So Mitch, good job. I’ll get a plaque for you, Mitch. He was the player of the game for us.”
Brown told reporters prior to the game that the lineup change wouldn’t necessarily be permanent, but Hart took a hard fall and is considered day-to-day due to lower back soreness, as Bondy notes. That means Robinson is well positioned to at least keep his spot in the starting five on Saturday when the Knicks and Sixers play their second of two contests in Abu Dhabi.
Here’s more on the Knicks:
- With OG Anunoby unavailable due to a minor hand injury on Thursday, Pacome Dadiet unexpectedly got the start in his place. But if it was an audition for a larger role with the Knicks or a showcase for a potential trade, it didn’t go great, says James L. Edwards III of The Athletic. Dadiet went 0-for-5 on his three-point attempts and turned the ball over three times in 15 minutes of action while scoring four points and grabbing a pair of rebounds.
- Edwards and Bondy shared a few more takeaways from the preseason opener, with Edwards pointing out that Towns seemed comfortable in Brown’s new, free-flowing offense, while both Edwards and Bondy singled out Miles McBride as one of the game’s top performers. Bondy also observes that Landry Shamet was part of the first-half rotation, whereas Malcolm Brogdon didn’t get into the game until midway through the third quarter, once Brown had begun to lean more on his deeper reserves.
- While some star players around the league like to be consulted on major team decisions involving the roster or the head coach, Jalen Brunson tells Bondy (subscription required) that he’s not one of those players — the veteran point guard is happy to leave those moves to management and doesn’t feel the need to be involved. “My entire thing was, before anything happens, my job is to go out there and be the best player I can be. And do my job on the court,” Brunson said. “Anything that happens outside the court, with the organization, with the team, when it happens, tell me. But I don’t want any part in having a say in it or anything. It’s not my job to say who deserves to come, who deserves to go. It’s not me.”
I thought Dadiet looked good. Made some mistakes but he can play with and without the ball. I give him one more year. Trade Kolek, cut shamet and keep Mathews he looked good. So far. Only one preseason game though.
Towns stats playing with Rudy two yrs. 20.8 n 8.1 reb first yr. 21.8 pts n 8.6 reb, second yyr. Towns played Nine yrs in Minny. And his worst statistical yrs playing with Rudy. In NY his first and only year. He was the starting all star center in the East. Had his best rebounding yr ever 13 a gm and had 24.5 pts. He doesn’t need Mitch. He needs to stay at CENTER. Knicks eventually will have to trade Mitch. He is too expensive for a backup C.
Individual stats don’t matter, wins do, and MIN won the most with him at the 4. Mitch is just dominant out there.
I’ll give you credit on Deuce though, he’s starting to play offense more like a real PG.
And Knicks won the most in 25 yrs with him in the middle. I don’t think you understand what a 5 is. Towns strenght is at the 5. Knicks don’t need to move their best player. You go get a DEFENSIVE 4 who can watch his back. Not move him from his strength.
Those two years his stats were down. AE had arrived too. Their team grew up. Jade was growing up too. So to say that was all Towns means you don’t really understand this game. Its a team game. Not a stat game. Except stats tells you something IF you know how to read them …..
Yes AL duce looked good at the point. You were correct. Like I said to the other people it’s okay to be wrong and we all will be. We still don’t agree on Kolek I only see a third string point guard in him and so I’d rather see them move him then Da
link to google.com
If I was the Rockets. I give up a future #1 pick for McBride. Start “Duece” at PG with Amen, KD, Smith, Sengun. He fits perfect with this team. With Sheppard. Holiday backing him up. Rockets will be fine. That’s how much I believe in McBride.
Kinicks are a better team with Mitch at the 5. Watch what happens with Kat at the 5 if Mitch is traded. If not Mitch, it’s Hart or OG traded. I doubt anyone is touching that contract of OGs. Getting rid of Mitch and McBride to accommodate Kat at the 5 is bad idea in my opinion. Time will tell. I’d be riding with this squad for the season. Shedding salary next season. Make or break this season.
You are correct Mitch is needed unless you can Kessler from Utah. Problem with Kessler is he’s going to make more money next year than he will this year. Ultimately I’d say get Kessler And I think it’s time to move on from Hart before his value plummets
Utah aren’t getting rid of Kessler for Mitch. They crave picks. And like you said, walker will get 20-25 per. Not really possible for NY at this point.
I think you need Basketball 101. Do you even watch the Knicks. Mitch played 17 gms last yr. His contract is up this year Towns is signed at 53, 57, 61 mill for next THREE years. 2024-25 was his first year in NY. And he was the starting ALL STAR center. This Knicks team is built around Towns and Brunson. Their core is them two plus OG and Bridges. They just put this team together last year. Those four players aren’t going anywhere. Knicks aren’t making any major trade. Till they see coach Browns system in action. They were in East Finals last year. And Thibs got fired cause he lost. This year they went out and fixed their bench. They are favored to win the East. By many outlets and writers. And you think they need major changes …… yeah ok.
I suggest you get off the sugar. And let them play 30 gms. Before you start breaking up the team ….
Watch the knicks as much as my team. I stopped at I need basketball 101. I think you need personal interactions 101 Al. Now that you want to be like that, I’ll be blunt. If the knicks don’t win this season (which they wont), they’re done….AGAIN. no more olive branches. Enjoy your self misery. Don’t care about the individual stats of Kat. Individuals don’t win rings. Plenty of guys who stats are good aren’t winners. You’ll see.