Nerlens Noel, who is part of the Knicks ’growing broader connection to Kentucky, began the first two preseason games in the center before sitting the next two with a sore left knee.
Mitchell Robinson said earlier on the field that he doesn’t mind getting off the bench, but the big third-year man moved into the starting lineup in Noel’s absence the last two games and was particularly “fantastic,” according to coach Tom Thibodeau, in Friday’s 36-point loss to the Cavaliers in the field.
The 22-year-old Robinson scored eight points, caught 12 rebounds and blocked four shots without committing a personal foul, and the Knicks got a 46-plus lead in the 27 minutes he had on the ground.
“It was fantastic. The same can be said for him about the way he has been practicing and working and arriving early and staying late, practicing well, concentrating, ”Thibodeau said after the match. “I thought he was playing as hard as he could.
“It was on the ground, it was everywhere. He was on the edge, throwing out, bouncing the ball, running to the screens, pressing the edge. I did a lot of good things. We will take a look at the film and continue to push it to improve. ”
On Dec. 1, Thibodeau said Robinson “has a lot to go through,” adding that the Knicks were “very fortunate to have Noel” as a complement and mentor.
Robinson has stepped off the bench in 101 of his 127 career games, including just six starts last season.
Still, the 7-footer set an NBA record for 2019-20 with a field goal percentage of .742 and finished second and seventh in the league in blocked shots in his first two seasons, respectively. .
In addition to scoring three triples among his 22-point highs, rookie goalie Immanuel Quickley also demonstrated on Friday his ability to reach the free-throw line, sinking five of his seven maximum attempts.
“I did it in Kentucky, I learned my sophomore year. And it’s just a matter of watching a lot of movies, “said Quickley after the game. “Seeing guys like Lou Williams and James Harden, the way they can really use the rules of defense against the opponent. And the referee has no choice but to score a foul. In fact, I practice it a lot. I just keep working on all parts of my game. I think it will be a big step for me “.