Knicks camp/preseason thread - Link in OP

[F N 11]

At least we have yankees and Giants this weekend.

[Zenzibar]

       

The hype is growing around Mitchell Robinson, the Knicks' 21-year-old center who's drawing a rave reviews in training camp

Scott Davis

 

1 hour ago

Mitchell Robinson had an impressive rookie season with the Knicks. Elsa/Getty Images

Mitchell Robinson impressed in his rookie year with the New York Knicks, becoming a bright spot for the team with his shot-blocking prowess and above-the-rim play.Heading into his second year, Robinson is drawing attention, as teammates and observers alike rave about his raw talent and potential.Robinson said he has added the three-pointer to his game, but further development on the defensive end could make Robinson a star for the rebuilding Knicks.Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Rookie center Mitchell Robinson was one of the few bright spots for the New York Knicks last season.

Taken in the second round with the 36th overall pick in the 2018 draft, Robinson emerged in the second half of the season as a rim-running, shot-blocking, athletic menace for the Knicks.

After the All-Star break, the 7-foot-1 Robinson averaged 9 points on 69% shooting, 9 rebounds, and 3 blocks while playing 25 minutes per game. As the Knicks stumbled to a league-worst 17-65 record, Robinson emerged as one of the league's most exciting young players and a prospect bursting with potential.

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Heading into the 2019-20 season, the hype has only continued to grow around Robinson, 21, as teammates and observers alike have been impressed by his skills.

ESPN's Zach Lowe namedRobinson of his six most intriguing players of the year. While Lowe highlighted the areas Robinson needs to improve — smarter defense, fewer fouls, a more diverse offensive repertoire — he also noted Robinson's unique defensive ability.

"Robinson burst onto the scene as the rare big man with the fast-twitch explosiveness to regularly reject jumpers ... He obliterated 22 3-pointers, five more than any other player, in just 1,360 minutes. There are maybe two living humans who can do some of the things Robinson does on defense."

Knicks teammates have similarly discussed Robinson's defensive acumen and potential. Julius Randle, who signed a three-year, $62 million contract with the Knicks this offseason, said Robinson terrorized him last year, leading him to ask who this "kid" was.

"We had played at the Garden last season, and we had played Mitch," Randle told reporters from training camp (via SNY's Ian Begley). "And he kept coming. Like I would get to the basket or I'd get past the first person and he kept coming out of nowhere. And I'm like, 'Man, who in the world is this kid?' ... He was just everywhere. I'm glad I got him on my team. I don't gotta deal with it now."

Randle said Robinson has "no clue how talented he is, how good he can be."

Veteran big man Taj Gibson, who the Knicks also signed in free agency, echoed Randle.

"He's only scratched the surface," Gibson said (via Newsday's Steve Popper). "Right now he's real talented and athletic but he shows a lot more in practice. He can shoot the ball. He's a great shot-blocker. He has so much to offer."

Robinson's shooting has been a focal point of Knicks training camp. Last year, Robinson took just three shots beyond 10 feet, per NBA.com/Stats. Robinson spent the summer working on his three-pointer and apparently plans to use it.

"Why work on something you're not going to use? I'm looking forward to it," Robinson told reporters on Tuesday.

Robinson doesn't look like Stephen Curry — yet — but his outside shot doesn't look bad either, particularly for someone who seemingly just added the skill in recent months.

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The Knicks' bigs can shoot

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12:12 PM - Oct 2, 2019

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Robinson's production last season was promising because in many ways, he was still figuring out his way around a basketball court. Robinson skipped his freshman season of college and instead prepared for the NBA draft. He essentially went straight from high school to the pros, having not played competitive basketball for the 2017-18 season.

Mitchell Robinson. Michael Hickey/Getty ImagesLast year, Robinson averaged 5.7 fouls per 36 minutes, meaning he would likely foul out of most contests if he played starter's minutes. As Lowe highlighted, Robinson often chases blocks he has no chance of getting and gets sloppy with his defensive positioning.

Outside of lobs and dunks and the attention he draws diving to the basket, Robinson didn't offer much on offense.

Yet Robinson's raw talent made the Knicks slightly better. The Knicks as a whole were outscored by 8.9 points per 100 possessions last season. With Robinson on the floor, the Knicks' net rating was -6.2, the highest of any Knicks player to play over 1,000 minutes last season. It's not a ringing endorsement, but again, the Knicks were the worst team in the league. Robinson made them marginally better as a 20-year-old.

Robinson still has a way to go, and the 2019-20 season will still feature pains. But in what's yet another "development" season for the Knicks, they can only hope for more flashes like this from their potential young star:

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Mitchell Robinson with a dunk, followed by a block, followed by another dunk

(via @ESPNNBA)

65

10:47 PM - Jul 5, 2019

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[blueNorange]

has their heights been officially released?

[stuporman]

You know, I was building the Mitch bandwagon before last year's draft so you all need to pony up the gas money now........

[Zenzibar]

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man, i had bobby portis all wrong. he seems like he will provide some great leadership and perspective too. loved how he handled all of those questions. loved his outward focus. loved sharing and giving credit.

makes me wonder what the hell happened with that mirotic fight.

Saw this as well. Envisioned that Mirotic had alot to do with it too. Didn't that cause him to leave the NBA?

If Portis can expand his game with confidence, just a tick, he can be a tougher version of Tim Thomas. That'll be valuable as the backup center. Drawing big men out so Randall can go to work on the block will be monstrous.

[2010]

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man, i had bobby portis all wrong. he seems like he will provide some great leadership and perspective too. loved how he handled all of those questions. loved his outward focus. loved sharing and giving credit.

makes me wonder what the hell happened with that mirotic fight.

There had been some static between the two for a while. Mirotic kinda instigated it and Portis finished him StreetFighter style.

[2010]

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man, i had bobby portis all wrong. he seems like he will provide some great leadership and perspective too. loved how he handled all of those questions. loved his outward focus. loved sharing and giving credit.

makes me wonder what the hell happened with that mirotic fight.

Mirotic always seemed a little bit like a punk and let's be honest dude has a pretty punchable face...

JK doesn't excuse Portis for knocking him out. You can't do that in any workplace.

Have you ever played ball? Have you ever played on any organized sports team? Sports ain't the office. Fights happen all the time. You know how many fights I've seen or been involved with teammates when things get heated and tempers flare. C'mon now.

Only difference is Bobby broke his face. You know how many fights the 90's Knicks got in during the Riley era amongst themselves? Oak vs Mase. Oak vs X-man. KT vs Marbury. Ewing being on the verge of putting hands on Starks IN TELEVISED GAMES.

Y'all getting soft...

[Jalen Bluntson]

3

MORE

DAYS!!!!

[HerSports85]

Read on Twitter

DSJR with over 50%

[thebuzzardman]

i'm no coach but here is how the team should be categorized

off the ball catch and shoot:
knox
morris
ellington
dotson
*****hopefully frank*****

run point:
dsj
frank
payton

create for themselves/other:s
dsj
randle
rj
iggy
trier

those that cut to the basket with force:
knox
dsj
rj? haven't seen enough
mitch
trier

pick and pop:
portis
randle
morris
knox
gibson

put the best lineup with the best combination of players

if dsj, randle, and rj are in the lineup together then you need a neutral catch and shoot player to balance it out whether it's morris or knox at the 3 or dotson, ellington, or frank at the 2 movng rj to the 3 spot. if robinson can hit the three at a 30-32% clip, that changes the spacing of this team.

Iggy cuts with force as well

[RHODEY]

man, i had bobby portis all wrong. he seems like he will provide some great leadership and perspective too. loved how he handled all of those questions. loved his outward focus. loved sharing and giving credit.

makes me wonder what the hell happened with that mirotic fight.

Mirotic always seemed a little bit like a punk and let's be honest dude has a pretty punchable face...

JK doesn't excuse Portis for knocking him out. You can't do that in any workplace.

Have you ever played ball? Have you ever played on any organized sports team? Sports ain't the office. Fights happen all the time. You know how many fights I've seen or been involved with teammates when things get heated and tempers flare. C'mon now.

Only difference is Bobby broke his face. You know how many fights the 90's Knicks got in during the Riley era amongst themselves? Oak vs Mase. Oak vs X-man. KT vs Marbury. Ewing being on the verge of putting hands on Starks IN TELEVISED GAMES.

Y'all getting soft...

HARPER versus JOJO English...

Watch on YouTube

[thebuzzardman]

Video from inside the Knicks training facility:

Spoiler:

[HarthorneWingo]

Mirotic always seemed a little bit like a punk and let's be honest dude has a pretty punchable face...

JK doesn't excuse Portis for knocking him out. You can't do that in any workplace.

Have you ever played ball? Have you ever played on any organized sports team? Sports ain't the office. Fights happen all the time. You know how many fights I've seen or been involved with teammates when things get heated and tempers flare. C'mon now.

Only difference is Bobby broke his face. You know how many fights the 90's Knicks got in during the Riley era amongst themselves? Oak vs Mase. Oak vs X-man. KT vs Marbury. Ewing being on the verge of putting hands on Starks IN TELEVISED GAMES.

Y'all getting soft...

HARPER versus JOJO English...

Where you ever the wrong neighborhood when that kind of stuff went down?

[Zenzibar]

Have you ever played ball? Have you ever played on any organized sports team? Sports ain't the office. Fights happen all the time. You know how many fights I've seen or been involved with teammates when things get heated and tempers flare. C'mon now.

Only difference is Bobby broke his face. You know how many fights the 90's Knicks got in during the Riley era amongst themselves? Oak vs Mase. Oak vs X-man. KT vs Marbury. Ewing being on the verge of putting hands on Starks IN TELEVISED GAMES.

Y'all getting soft...

HARPER versus JOJO English...

Where you ever the wrong neighborhood when that kind of stuff went down?

Once went to a Dominican neighborhood and a fight broke out. Yo, fams were throwing bottles at us from their apartment windows...haha

[HerSports85]

Would you be upset if RJ came off the bench?

[iLLmatic860]

Would you be upset if RJ came off the bench?

If he didnt earn his spot then no not at all

[Jalen Bluntson]

Would you be upset if RJ came off the bench?

If it meant starting DSJ/Frank? No.

[RHODEY]

Have you ever played ball? Have you ever played on any organized sports team? Sports ain't the office. Fights happen all the time. You know how many fights I've seen or been involved with teammates when things get heated and tempers flare. C'mon now.

Only difference is Bobby broke his face. You know how many fights the 90's Knicks got in during the Riley era amongst themselves? Oak vs Mase. Oak vs X-man. KT vs Marbury. Ewing being on the verge of putting hands on Starks IN TELEVISED GAMES.

Y'all getting soft...

HARPER versus JOJO English...

Where you ever the wrong neighborhood when that kind of stuff went down?

Nope, more than likely I was in the safety of my living room with a bowl of Captain Crunch.

[2010]

Would you be upset if RJ came off the bench?

Nope.

We should field two teams like the 99 Knicks.

Starters should be tough vets who are disciplined enough to set the tone, defend and play in organized halfcourt sets
Frank | Trier | Morris | Randle | Gibson

Second unit should be young cats with fresh legs who can come in and run teams off the floor
Smith Jr. | RJ | Knox | Portis | Robinson

[malik959]

I had a football game where the team we were against had a quarterback that never changed his count until the 4th quarter so we timed him and rushed in on every play. Well when he finally changed it we rushed offsides and hit him. Broke his neck. Their fans rushed us and when our coach got us on the bus they were rocking our bus. Lol, had to have a police escort from there on out to include when they came to our games because we were getting pay back, ahhhhhh the good old days!