ATLANTA \u2014 The Hawks just obtained Clint Capela in a trade-deadline deal. While he is still injured, \u201cThe Next Capela\u201d dominated the court at State Farm Arena Sunday despite the Knicks\u2019 140-135 double-overtime heartbreaker to the Hawks.<\/p>\n
Knicks center Mitchell Robinson was sensational \u2014 a massive force at the rim on both ends, notching 15 points with 11 rebounds, three blocks and three steals.<\/p>\n
When Robinson was drafted in the second round in 2018, former Knicks coach David Fizdale said Robinson had Capela potential. It looks like he might have more than that and it\u2019s a shame he was left out of the Rising Stars All-Star Game for rookies and sophomores.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t really watch him,\u2019\u2019 Robinson said of Capela. \u201cWe do the same thing. He\u2019s all right, but I think I\u2019m better on defense.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
Robinson owed his spectacular showing to his mentor Taj Gibson, who told him before the two-game road trip he needed to be more fiery.<\/p>\n \u201cTaj talked to me to play with a little more force,\u2019\u2019 Robinson said. \u201cI kind of did that in Detroit and I brought it down to Atlanta with me. I played even harder tonight even with the back-to-back being tired. I had to push through.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n This wasn\u2019t even about Robinson\u2019s alley-oops. Any pass thrown to him near the basket, he muscled in for a dunk.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was great,\u2019\u2019 Julius Randle said. \u201cHe was great. Doing what Mitchell does. That\u2019s what makes him special, defending the rim, getting offensive rebounds, running the floor, creating extra possessions. He was amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n One of his best plays was nullified controversially in the fourth quarter when he ripped the ball from D\u2019Andre Hunter underneath and dunked it. (Officials ruled a timeout was called from the bench before Robinson stole it.)<\/p>\n \u201cHow can they call a timeout?\u2019\u2019 Robinson said. \u201cIt was crazy. The ball was already in my hands. It was already through the net.\u201d<\/p>\n After the game, ex-Knick shot-blocker extraordinaire Dikembe Mutombo walked by the locker room and said, \u201cThere\u2019s no shot-blockers in the league anymore.\u2019\u2019 When a reporter asked Robinson about Mutombo, he said, \u201cYeah, he\u2019s good.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n \u201c[Robinson] was outstanding,\u2019\u2019 Knicks interim coach Mike Miller said. \u201cHis offensive numbers look good but his defense, the way he impacted the game, what he did along that backline was terrific.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n![\"Mitchell](\"https:\/\/thenypost.files.wordpress.com\/2020\/02\/knicks_hawks_basketball.1.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=300)