Mike Brown Embraces the 'Different Dimension' of Knicks' Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson Duo
Mike Brown has shown no hesitation in utilizing the two-big-man lineup of Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson, a strategy that has become a cornerstone of the Knicks' approach this season.
The duo has started together in the first three Knicks preseason games, and Brown's enthusiasm for their partnership is evident in his words.
"It just brings a different dimension," Brown said on Sunday. This statement highlights the unique strategic value of pairing two big men, a concept that was notably absent in the previous season under Tom Thibodeau.
Thibodeau's reluctance to pair Robinson and Towns in the starting lineup was partly due to Robinson's limited playing time following ankle surgery, which resulted in just 17 games for him in the regular season.
However, the Knicks' run to the Eastern Conference finals provided a glimpse of the potential in this pairing. In 165 minutes of playtime, Towns and Robinson combined for a plus-4.4 NET rating, outscoring opponents by 4.4 points per 100 possessions whenever they shared the court.
Robinson himself expressed excitement about the prospect of playing with two big men, a strategy that yielded success in the previous season.
"When you’re playing with two bigs, it’s going to be exciting to see," Robinson said. "We did a little bit of it last year and we had success with it. So, we’re going to see how it goes from there."
Brown's enthusiasm for this lineup is multifaceted. Firstly, it allows him to experiment with Towns in different positions, making it challenging for opposing defenses to focus their efforts on the starting center.
Secondly, starting Towns at the four position extends the Knicks' reach, creating a longer and more versatile team.
"The second [part] is just the length, the length on the floor is just unbelievable, when you’re playing KAT at the 4, playing OG [Anunoby] at the 3, Mikal [Bridges] at the 2," Brown explained. "That’s a big, long team, with a lot of interchangeable parts. And then offensively, not just for KAT, but for the rest of the group, it just gives you a different look. You’d think that group should be able to offensive rebound at a high level, which is one of our staples."
Brown's high regard for Robinson is also evident. The 7-footer, known for his rim-protecting abilities and offensive rebounding prowess, averaged 4.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, and a NET rating of plus-2.7 in the playoffs last season.
Brown believes that Robinson's athleticism and vertical threat will thrive in his up-tempo system, a belief that has led to Robinson's altered offseason workout routine, which includes running hills to peak physical condition.
"First of all, he’s a great runner. Not a good runner, a great runner," Brown said. "And he’s got to — like all of us — play at this pace, especially all the time. We don’t wanna do it most of the time, we wanna do it all the time. Having said that, you know Mitch is a vertical threat. I’m just guessing off the top of my head. He might be the best vertical threat I’ve been around. Antonio McDyess was a tremendous vertical threat."
"But you can just close your eyes and throw it up there and he’d go get it. That’s something you can do with Mitch and some of the passes — I’m like, dang, that’s a bad pass — and he just catches it even with one hand sometimes and throws it down. So with his ability to be a vertical threat, it’s gonna help us in a lot of ways, but it definitely is better than what I thought coming in."
