WASHINGTON — After the Knicks routed the Nets on Thursday, Brooklyn coach Kenny Atkinson gave center Mitchell Robinson high praise.
The Nets shot just 26 percent and credited Robinson for part of it.
“Mitchell Robinson’s rim defense, we shot 29 percent at the rim,’’ Atkinson said. “We were going at him, and we just couldn’t finish on him.”
There’s been a subtle change in Robinson’s defensive posture since he took the NBA by storm last season as a rookie with his shot-blocking heroics.
Robinson is adhering more to a new philosophy in which former coach David Fizdale put forth about becoming a better rim protector, not necessarily a more productive shot blocker.
“That was some good advice,’’ Robinson said. “I should take it and continue to grow that.”
Robinson said he was “very proud’’ to hear such high praise form Atkinson.
David Fizdale and Mitchell Robinson.Robert Sabo, Anthony J. Causi“I didn’t get into foul trouble until late in the game and I still wasn’t really in foul trouble,’’ Robinson said before tallying nine points, nine rebounds and two blocks as the Knicks beat the Wizards 107-100 Saturday. “I altered a lot of shots. I didn’t block them but made people think twice about shots they wanted to take. That was a big part of the defense. All around, our team was everywhere on the court. We were great.’’
During the 10 games under interim coach Mike Miller, Robinson has seen an uptick in committing less fouls and scoring more points. He has played five minutes more per game and entered Saturday averaging 12.1 points with Miller in charge. Under Fizdale, Robinson’s scoring average was 8.9 points.
With his putbacks and alley-oop slams, Robinson is shooting nearly 70 percent from the field after going 4 of 5 against the Wizards on Saturday. The Knicks center doesn’t credit Miller for his rise, saying the player’s only meeting before Fizdale was more important.
Robinson had hurt his toe in a practice earlier this week but was cleared to go after sitting out practice Friday. It seems only a matter of time before Miller vault him back in to the starting lineup.
Shooting guard Wayne Ellington, who missed the previous 10 games with an Achilles strain, dressed vs. Washington but did not play. A heavier logjam is growing at shooting guard with Ellington back and Reggie Bullock (spinal fusion surgery) on the verge of making his Knicks debut, possibly Jan. 1 against Portland.
“He’s been really coming along well,’’ Miller said. “Every day he does a little bit more and is a little bit sharper. He’s getting reps, getting live reps. His conditioning is pretty good. Mentally his confidence is getting better.”
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