The Boston Celtics just made a serious statement. They signed Mitchell Robinson, the guy who absolutely dominated the glass last season with the best offensive rebounding rate in the entire NBA, and this move is all about deepening what already made them an elite squad. Mazzulla Ball, man, it ain't just about draining threes. It's about owning the margins, winning the possession battle, and just taking more shots than the other team, plain and simple.
Celtics Double Down on Dominance
Last season, Boston was an elite regular season team precisely because they mastered those margins, keeping turnovers low and absolutely owning the glass. Robinson is the perfect fit. He rebounded a wild 21.2% of Knicks misses last season, a league high according to Cleaning the Glass! Think about that. The Celtics were already 5th in the NBA in offensive rebounding rate at 31.8%, and now they've added the best in the business. That's just wild. And get this, Robinson also took a huge leap as a defensive rebounder, jumping to a 23.1% rate last season from his 2023 career high of 18.2%. The Celtics were second in the NBA in defensive rebounding from December 1st on after a shaky start, so adding Robinson, plus Jayson Tatum coming back? That number is gonna jump even higher.Elite Two-Way Impact and Tatum Chemistry
It's not just about the boards either. Robinson is one of the best defensive players in the NBA, an elite rim protector who's also super good when he switches. That's a big deal. The Celtics ranked 23rd in opponent turnover percentage last season, which wasn't great. But both big additions, Robinson and Paul George, are gonna help fix that. Robinson was 10th among big men in the NBA with a 2% steal percentage last season. Plus, for all you Basketball University nerds out there, Robinson has been the most efficient roller in the NBA since 2016! Imagine that two-man game with Tatum. It's gonna be absolutely elite. So, yeah, Robinson doesn't shoot threes, and no, he's not magically gonna start. But that's not what Mazzulla Ball is about. Get ready for Boston to just flat-out own the possession battle next season, big time.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.