’I performed like a–:’ Mitchell Robinson wasn’t proud of Celtics debut
Boston Celtics
“I imply, final recreation, we acquired demolished. As an enormous, you may’t let that occur.”
Mitchell Robinson — not like teammate Paul George — had a debut to overlook for the Celtics on Tuesday.
Boston’s new beginning middle labored in Boston’s season opener in opposition to the Pistons on Tuesday — posting 4 factors, three rebounds, and two blocks over 18 minutes of recreation motion.
The 7-foot huge man solely recorded one offensive rebound, with Boston outscored by eight factors when he was out on the court docket in Detroit.
Talking to the media on Thursday morning, Robinson didn’t pull any punches when it got here to his play in opposition to the Pistons.
“I performed like a–,” Robinson declared on the Auerbach Heart. “It’s form of simply easy. And I can’t have that.”
Robinson was removed from the one participant who struggled for Boston Tuesday.
Past a 38-point efficiency from George and inspiring capturing from each Derrick White (7-of-13, 17 factors) and Payton Pritchard (4-of-9), the Celtics didn’t get a lot from famous person ahead Jayson Tatum — who sank simply 6 of his 23 field-goal makes an attempt and solely tried one free throw within the loss.
A rim protector like Robinson isn’t going to be tasked with sparking Boston’s offense most nights — doing most of his injury on lobs, put-back dunks, and factors off offensive boards.
However Robinson’s skill to tug down offensive rebounds has been a calling card of his recreation — with the athletic middle averaging 3.7 offensive boards per recreation final season with the Knicks, equating to an offensive-rebounding price of 20.1 p.c. On Tuesday, that offensive-rebound price was simply 6.3 p.c.
“I exploit it as gasoline,” Robinson mentioned of transferring previous Tuesday’s efficiency mentioned. “Type of need to. I imply, final recreation, we acquired demolished. As an enormous, you may’t let that occur. You realize what I imply? So I’ve acquired to take that on the chin and be taught from it, watch the movie and get higher, and simply concentrate on the subsequent one.”
Despite the fact that Robinson labored in his first recreation together with his new staff, Joe Mazzulla provided up a vote of confidence in Boston’s new huge man forward of Thursday’s apply.
“He’s an important piece to what we do,” Mazzulla mentioned. “And so the usual is a little bit bit increased and the expectation is a little bit bit increased. So I believe it simply comes with time, understanding that each play, you’re on the nucleus of what we’re attempting to perform on each ends of the ground. And it’s an awesome praise that I believe all three of these bigs share.
“A few of that simply comes with time. Simply the offensive reads, the offensive chemistry, the offensive execution, and likewise the defensive reads and the defensive reactions that we’ve got to have. I recognize that he’s in that house, and I believe he’s taking up the duty of understanding how essential that place is to us.”
Robinson has a perfect “get-right” recreation subsequent on the schedule for Boston, because the Celtics will welcome his former staff — and reigning NBA champions — the Knicks on Friday for his or her residence opener at TD Backyard.
Robinson performed a key function in New York’s first championship since 1973, and performed the primary eight seasons of his profession with the Knicks.
However Robinson brushed again speak that he was circling Friday’s recreation on his calendar, given his ties to the Knicks.
“It [doesn’t] actually matter that a lot,” Robinson mentioned of taking up New York. “It’s extra so simply attempting to bounce again from what occurred two nights in the past. On the finish of the day, basketball is a enterprise, and we’ve acquired to play [New York] such as you play the opposite groups.”
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