The Boston Celtics can't handle Mitchell Robinson—and it might cost them the series

The New York Knicks are turning heads in their playoff series against the Boston Celtics , and Mitchell Robinson is at the center of it all. His impact has been so significant that the Celtics are resorting to desperate measures to counter him, including intentional fouls in the fourth quarter. Through two games, the Knicks are up 2-0, and Robinson’s presence has been the difference-maker.

The New York Knicks have dominated Mitchell Robinson’s minutes against the Boston Celtics

New York’s starters have struggled in this series, getting outscored by 13 points in 46 minutes. But when Mitchell Robinson is on the floor, the New York Knicks have outscored the Boston Celtics by a staggering 32 points in just 43 minutes. Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla acknowledged Robinson’s impact after Game 2, pointing out that while the Knicks’ starters were in the negative, Robinson finished at +19.



This wasn’t the case during the regular season, where the Knicks’ revamped roster struggled to establish a clear identity. With Karl-Anthony Towns at center, the team leaned into a more offensive-minded approach, but the results were mixed. Their defense slipped, their rebounding declined, and they lacked the trademark grit of a typical Tom Thibodeau team.

Mitchell Robinson is forcing the Boston Celtics to play the New York Knicks’ game

The Boston Celtics are known for their elite spacing and efficient scoring, but Mitchell Robinson is disrupting their rhythm. When he’s on the floor, Boston is shooting just 38.9% on two-pointers, compared to 52.7% when he sits. His rim protection has been especially crucial—Boston, which shot 70.6% in the restricted area during the regular season, is making only 57.1% of their attempts within six feet against Robinson.

Rebounding has also been a major factor. With Robinson in the game, the Knicks are outworking Boston on the glass. He leads the series in box outs despite playing far fewer minutes than Towns. Thibodeau has repeatedly emphasized Mitchell Robinson’s value as a rebounder, even keeping him in late in halves just to secure boards.

The New York Knicks are rediscovering their identity at the perfect time

This playoff run has been a throwback to the 2023-24 New York Knicks—a team built on defense, rebounding, and relentless effort. During the regular season, New York struggled in low-scoring games, winning just six of 27 contests where they failed to reach 110 points. But in this series, they’ve grinded out two ugly wins, including a 91-point performance in Game 2.

Robinson’s minutes are limited—he’s still working his way back from last year’s ankle injury—but his impact is undeniable. For short stretches, he’s turning the Knicks back into the kind of team Thibodeau thrives with: physical, defensive-minded, and tough to play against.

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Boston, the defending champions, excels at playing their style of basketball. But Robinson is dragging them into a different kind of battle—one they haven’t figured out how to win yet. If he keeps this up, the Knicks might just have the formula to pull off a major upset.