Tuesdays’ big-stage matchup between the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers saw no shortage of storylines. Buried beneath the Jaylen Brown vs. Jayson Tatum, Celtics vs. Sixers rivalry, and the battle of the uncs, Mitchell Robinson quietly entered his first real measuring stick game.
What did he have for Boston as they matched up against Joel Embiid (alongside four other massive names)?
Adding Robinson over the summer came with plenty of luxrious hypotheticals. That’s all great. More than anything,
Boston clearly needed some extra frontcourt help after their previous rotation of Neemias Queta, Nikola Vucevic, and Luka Garza had no answer for post-appendectomy Embiid in the playoffs last spring.
Queta spent much of the series in foul trouble, while neither Vucevic nor Garza was strong enough to keep the former NBA MVP away from the basket. Buckets came easy for The Process and so did the wins.
Embiid dominated the Celtics in Games 5-7 to help lead the Sixers to a 3-1 comeback in what was their first playoff series win over Boston in 44 years.
Big Mitch hasn’t quite met the expectations surrounding his arrival just yet. He hasn’t been the same nuisance on the offensive glass as he was seemingly everytime he’d play Boston as a member of the New York Knicks. He’s looked out of shape. His quickness and defensive playmaking have remained hidden talents.
Plus, the “Sheets FC” analytics nerd portion of the fanbase would tell you that those numbers don’t favor Celtics Mitch just yet.
You wouldn’t have been able to guess all that if you just watched him for the first time on Tuesday. Robinson clearly understood the assignment.
It’s not always easy to notice defense when you watch a game live. Sometimes you’re just watching the ball. Others, the fundamental, non-highlight-worthy defense doesn’t jump off the screen at you. The experience is a little different when Embiid catches the ball in the post and you get war flashbacks to the spring.
You just kind of expect him to take a few power dribbles and work his was to the rim.
That didn’t happen.
Instead, Robinson consistently held his ground and forced the longtime 76er to work further from the basket. He also remained under control while getting physical — an important skill when guarding one of the league’s most profound grifters. Like, Embiid averages more free-throws per game this season than field-goal attempts.
Look it up.
So, the fact that Mitch was able to defend him without fouling (except for when he decided to sloppily closeout on a three-point attempt for some reason, despite Embiid shooting 10% from deep entering the game) was huge.
The Louisiana native guarded the seven-foot-two center on 24.3 partial possessions, held him to five points on 1-3 from the field, and forced a turnover. Embiid couldn’t move him. It was like watching him try to back down one of Mitch’s monster trucks.
For perspective, Queta guarded Embiid on 18.1 partial possessions in Boston’s Game 7 loss to Philly back in May. Embiid scored 14 points on Queta while shooting an efficient 6-11 from the floor.
The Portuguese big man was much better Tuesday, in fairness. Queta limited Embiid to just three points on 17 partial possessions.
Both his play, and Robinson’s as his backup, were a clear step in the right direction. There’s a lot of season left. Robinson has to continue to uphold a defensive standard. But, if he looks the way he did against Embiid and the 76ers, then Boston will have aptly plugged the hole that sank their ship last spring.
