Celtics Need Robinson to Find His Defensive Form

On November 3, the Celtics faced growing questions about Mitchell Robinson’s adjustment to Boston after the center struggled in a 109-93 loss to the Rockets on Monday. Robinson was minus-16 in 15 minutes, briefly left with a sprained left thumb and had difficulty defending and contributing on offense.

Boston expected Robinson to anchor its defense and create extra possessions with rebounds. Instead, the team has been outscored by seven points per 100 possessions with him on the floor this season. His offensive rebounds have also fallen to 3.4 per 36 minutes, from 7.7 last season, while his foul rate has climbed to its highest level since his second NBA season.

Coach Joe Mazzulla said the team had not met its expectations, but praised Robinson’s mindset, work ethic and willingness to improve. Mazzulla noted that Boston has positioned Robinson farther from the basket to set screens and help create offense, which may affect his rebounding chances.

The Celtics plan to support Robinson as he adjusts, with improvement potentially taking weeks. Luke Garza has played well and offers a three-point threat, while Neemias Queta has defended strongly but still makes mistakes and commits fouls. Boston may use Robinson in shorter stints, giving him time to rebuild his conditioning and confidence as the team works to make its center rotation a strength.