Mitchell Robinson hasn't had the best start to life with the Boston Celtics. The veteran big man has been struggling to make an impact on the floor, both in terms of scoring and rebounding. Robinson's screening has also left a lot to be desired, which is a sizeable issue given how Joe Mazzulla's offense is built around a center's ability to create separation for shooters and/or ball-handlers.
The numbers don't look great for Robinson, either. As of November 3, Boston had an offensive rating of 97 with Robinson on the floor, which was good for last place in the NBA. Yet, when he went to the bench, the team's offensive rating skyrocketed to 123.5 points. Net rating tells a similar story, with the Celtics +16 points per 100 possessions better without
Robinson patrolling the paint.
Of course, those numbers are built on a tiny sample size. Robinson has played in seven regular-season games for the Celtics so far. It's clear he's adapting to a new offensive system, and it's taking time for him to figure things out. However, Neemias Queta and Luka Garza are both performing at a high level, making Robinson's struggles stand out even more.
In a recent episode of 'The Celtics Chronicle' podcast, hosts Adam Taylor and Tim Sheils discussed Robinson's struggles and whether his addition during the summer could wind up being short-lived, as Brad Stevens continues to search for an impactful big man to compete with Queta.
You can watch the full discussion by clicking on the embedded video above.
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This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Can the Boston Celtics get the best out of Mitchell Robinson?
