When the Boston Celtics scooped up Mitchell Robinson this offseason for a three-year, $47.4 million deal, everyone immediately started buzzing about his offensive rebounding. And yeah, for good reason! The guy is legit one of the best offensive rebounders in the entire NBA, bringing that interior presence the Celtics desperately needed.
Offensive Glass Dominance is Just the Start
This seven-footer was pulling down a ridiculous 8.8 total boards per game for the Finals-winning New York Knicks, all in just 19.6 minutes a night. Think about that! His offensive glass work was even crazier, snatching 4.2 offensive rebounds per game. That put him second in the league, even though he played at least six fewer minutes than anyone else in the top five. That’s just wild dominance, giving the Celtics so many second chances. He has truly established himself as an elite offensive rebounder.
His Defensive Game Is an Absolute Game-Changer
But hold up, there’s a whole other side to Robinson’s game that needs way more love: his defense. I’m telling you, this dude’s ability to protect the rim, use his crazy length to just scare shots away, and provide a rock-solid defensive anchor behind those perimeter guys? That’s right up there with his rebounding, maybe even 1A/1B in importance. When it comes to pure shot-blocking, the man is a machine. He averaged 2.2 blocks per 75 possessions, which puts him in the 95th percentile. And Bball-Index says he blocked 27% of his shot contests, hitting the 96th percentile. That’s not just good, that’s elite rim protection.
Robinson is more than just a shot-blocker. He’s a high-impact defender who changes the game just by being there. He deters attempts altogether, forces bad passes, holds his own in the post, and his help defense timing is impeccable. His +2.7 Defensive DPM last season? That was 99th percentile, folks. Plus, his 23.2% defensive rebound rate means he’s consistently cleaning up the glass on that end, too. This isn’t just a big body standing in the paint. When he’s healthy, Robinson is an athletic, mobile center who can erase mistakes at the rim and make life hell for offenses on the perimeter. His 7-foot-4 wingspan and quick leaping ability? Seriously, that’s a problem for anyone trying to score. He cuts off driving lanes, slides his feet on aggressive pick-and-rolls while recovering, and stays in front of smaller offensive players long enough to force a pass or contest a shot.
The Celtics absolutely needed that kind of coverage versatility and major size last season, and now they’ve got it with Robinson. He brings that much-needed potential to the roster. What a pickup, seriously. This guy is going to be a nightmare for opposing offenses all season long.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Celtics Blog.
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