The Celtics didn’t bring in Mitchell Robinson just to add another big body. They brought in a player with a glaring weakness that Joe Mazzulla may be able to turn into part of the plan.
That’s the strange twist here: Robinson’s free throw shooting has long been a problem, and Mazzulla once tried to weaponize that against him with “Hack-a-Mitch” when Robinson was still with the Knicks. Now Boston has inherited the same issue. But in Mazzulla’s world, a flaw only matters if it can’t be turned into leverage.
His whole approach is built around tilting the game in Boston’s favor in the areas that matter most - threes, rebounds, turnovers. And if the Celtics can get even more out of that formula this season, Robinson’s presence could help them in an unexpected way: by pushing the offense toward the foul line.
That part matters because Boston finished dead last in free throw attempts last season. That number should climb with Robinson on the roster, and the Celtics may need it. If the three-pointers aren’t falling, getting to the line can become the safety valve.
Boston already found one fallback last season through offensive rebounding, which helped keep the offense among the league’s best. The goal now is even broader: cover every base. Robinson’s weakness might invite opponents to attack him, but it also gives Mazzulla a chance to flip that strategy back on them.
The Knicks have managed to live with the same issue. If Robinson’s free throw shooting were truly enough to sink a team, New York wouldn’t have become NBA champions. The reason they moved on was to avoid the NBA’s tax aprons, not because the flaw outweighed his value.
Boston still paid for what it believes Robinson brings, whether he starts or comes off the bench. The Celtics are betting that his work on the glass will matter far more than his problems at the line.
And if Mazzulla can squeeze an advantage out of those foul shots, Robinson could be more than a useful addition. He could help push Mazzulla Ball to a new level.
In Other News...
Payton Pritchards Jaylen Brown Reaction Says A Lot About Bostons Next Step
Payton Pritchard did not spend much time dwelling on Jaylen Browns move to Philadelphia, at least not publicly. Speaking after the trade, the Celtics guard framed it the way players often do when the business side of the league lands hardest: as part of the job, and as another chance to absorb what a teammate like Brown taught him along the way. Pritchard also said the teams group chat has not turned into a postmortem on the deal, which is usually a sign that the roster is already shifting its attention to the next phase.
That next phase arrives quickly, with Boston set to open preseason against the Cavaliers on Oct. 8 before hosting the 76ers two days later. Pritchards focus on his own game fits the moment, because the Celtics are about to find out what their new shape looks like in real time, and one of the first chances to measure it will come against Brown in a Philadelphia uniform. The early days of camp and preseason tend to reveal what a team is ready to say out loud and what it is still sorting through quietly. [Read more 🡒]
Payton Pritchards Celtics Reaction Says Plenty About Bostons New Reality
Chris Cenacs arrival at No. 27 gave the Celtics another young piece to think about, and his college coach, Kelvin Sampson, made the fit sound pretty straightforward. Boston also has a lot more going on around the edges of the roster, with owner Bill Chisholm saying there are no immediate plans for a new arena and veteran point guard Mike Conley already sounding energized about landing in the mix.
Still, the clearest window into where things stand may have come from Payton Pritchard, whose reaction to Jaylen Browns move to Philadelphia said plenty about how different this version of the Celtics feels. Between a fresh draft pick, a veteran addition, and the franchises long-term building questions, Boston is entering a stretch where almost every comment seems to hint at a bigger reset still taking shape. [Read more 🡒]
Payton Pritchard Could Gain Something Huge From Mike Conley
Payton Pritchard has already grown into an important part of Bostons rotation, but the Celtics summer moves suggest there is still room for him to sharpen the finer points of running an offense. After trading Jaylen Brown, the front office went into the offseason looking to build a better support system around Jayson Tatum and Paul George, and the addition of Mike Conley Jr. fits neatly into that plan. Conley brings the kind of veteran steadiness and point guard know-how that can help a player like Pritchard keep expanding his game.
For Boston, this is about more than just filling out the depth chart. Conley is expected to provide leadership and mentorship to younger players, and Pritchard stands out as one of the clearest beneficiaries because of how much he can still absorb about the position. The Celtics do not need him to become a different player, but if Conley can help him see the floor a little better and manage the offense with more control, that is the sort of quiet upgrade that can matter once the games get tight. [Read more 🡒]