Although they are third in the Eastern Conference, make no mistake, the New York Knicks are very much a contender. The Knicks flying under the radar may ultimately work to their benefit, with New York having already built a championship-caliber team.
This is particularly true after the Knicks bolstered their roster during the trade deadline, even though they failed to acquire Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. One player who is fueling their success has been backup center Mitchell Robinson.
Despite not being a great offensive player, Robinson brings something to the table that is almost equally as valuable as scoring. He is not only a fantastic offensive rebounder but a historic one too.
Mitchell Robinson's elite skill is a game-changer for the Knicks
In fact, he is on pace to set an NBA record for offensive rebounding rate, with him snatching up 8 offensive rebounds per 36 minutes. For advanced stats nerds, that's a staggering 24.5% offensive rebounding rate, which is unheard of.
Having a player that dominant on the glass is a competitive advantage. Teams are already wary about keeping him off of the glass, but he somehow continues to dominate second-chance opportunities and give the Knicks an edge.
Take for instance the NBA Cup Finals. The Knicks looked as though they were going to lose to the San Antonio Spurs.
But with Karl-Anthony Towns on the bench, Robinson came alive. He grabbed a shocking 10 offensive boards in 18 minutes, gifting New York precious second-chance opportunities against an elite defense.
Robinson's offensive rebounding may give the Knicks a playoff edge
That performance could potentially bode well for the Knicks in this year's playoffs. Sure, Robinson may only be the fifth or sixth most talented player on the Knicks, but that elite skill has special importance.
This point is especially true in high-pressure playoff games where the impact of offensive rebounds can be significant. In the postseason, possessions become increasingly valuable as the games tend to slow down.
Therefore, winning the possession battle would give the Knicks an edge. Robinson alone can help them win that battle. Better yet, he can also help them defensively. Opposing teams will have to send at least two players to box out instead of getting out in transition.
That helps to slow the game down and allows for the Knicks to defend with a set defense. There, Robinson's rim protection and New York's wing defenders can get them stops, which could be a recipe for success for the Knicks in the NBA playoffs.