The Boston Celtics have a big problem on their roster, and the numbers do not lie. Mitchell Robinson, the team’s $47 million addition, has been demoted from the starting lineup after just six games. This is a massive red flag for a franchise that paid top dollar for a specific role. The center struggled in 15 minutes against Houston on Monday night, ending with four fouls, four points, and four rebounds. That performance was not good enough to stay on the floor.
Robinson admitted he does not understand why his play has dipped since arriving in Boston. Since joining the Celtics, he has struggled to explain the downturn that followed the game. “I don’t know, to be honest. I’ve got to figure it out soon,” he said, according to Yahoo Sports. Coach Joe Mazzulla tried to explain the shift in strategy, noting they want him further from the rim to set screens. But the results on the court tell a different story about his fit so far.
The $47 Million Question
The investment the team made last summer was supposed to secure a rim protector. Instead, the returns have been negative from the start. With only 11 offensive rebounds this season, Robinson averages 1.8 per game. That is a sharp drop from his 4.2 average last year with the Knicks. The stats show a player who is not doing the one thing he was hired to do. It is a big worry given the three-year, $47 million contract on his books.
Celtics fans expected a strong one-two combo with Neemias Queta. Yet Queta has started for the second straight game while Robinson sits. The team needs a big man who can grab boards and protect the paint, not one who gets lost on defense. The gap between the money paid and the production seen is getting wider every day. This is not a minor slump; it is a fundamental breakdown in the plan.
Analysts Call It Atrocious
Outside observers are not being kind to the new center. Genuine concerns have emerged regarding the limited impact he is delivering for the Celtics this season. Analyst Nick Cattles did not hold back his criticism of the performance. “I love what I saw in the preseason, but Mitchell Robinson has been ATROCIOUS to start his Celtics career. Not rebounding enough. Defensively lazy and lost,” Cattles said. It is only six games, but the trend is hard to ignore.
Before the season slips away, the Celtics must take significant steps to reverse the situation. They cannot win championships with a starting center who cannot find his spot on the court. If Robinson cannot fix his rebounding and defensive positioning, the $47 million deal could look like a terrible mistake.
