Monday night's contest between the New York Knicks and the Toronto Raptors ended predictably but featured an achievement to remember from Mitchell Robinson.
Yes, this game provided what many fans had expected in the beginning: a routine win for the Raptors over the Knicks. That certainly was the case: Toronto cruised to victory over New York, 128-92.
There hasn't been much positive news coming from the Big Apple franchise this season. The Knicks still hold the worst record in the NBA and are well on their way to another high lottery pick in the next draft.
None of their recent draft prospects have broken through in the big leagues, but young Mitchell Robinson is making good progress.
The 20-year-old center finished with a team-high three blocks in Monday's loss, and his consistent defensive prowess in the paint has been rewarded.
ESPN's Ian Begley dug up an interesting stat regarding Mitchell, who now holds a distinction shared by all-time Knickerbocker great Patrick Ewing:
Mitchell Robinson has tied Patrick Ewing for the Knicks’ franchise rookie record for consecutive games with a block. Robinson, the Knicks’ 2018 second-round pick, has blocked a shot in 28 straight games.
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) March 19, 2019
Mitchell Robinson being compared to a Hall of Famer should motivate the second-round pick from last year's draft to become the next standout big man from New York. This is a moment which could inspire him to join the fraternity of other Knicks legends such as Ewing, Willis Reed, and Walt Bellamy.
The seven-footer is averaging a modest amount of playing time, about 19 minutes of action per game this season, but his presence on the defensive end merits more playing time for the rebuilding Knicks. Head coach David Fizdale should consider giving his young shot-blocker more reps. If he finds out about the rookie's milestone, that might give him an extra nudge.
Then again, the lack of playing time might be attributed to Robinson's lack of resourcefulness at the other end of the court. Despite shooting a solid 68.8 percent from the field, Robinson is averaging about four field goal attempts per night this season, a paltry total.
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