Duncan Robinson: A True Professional
Basketball writer and Content Creator Nick Andre takes a deep dive into NBA player Duncan Robinson’s professionalism and impact on Heat postseason basketball.
The Miami Heat playoff run is incredibly impressive. They shocked the world with a first round victory over the number one seed Milwaukee Bucks and are currently one win away from the Eastern Conference Finals. Give credit to Jimmy Butler as he deserves all the praise for his spectacular postseason play. However, give credit to the Heat’s supporting cast for stepping up as well.
One of the biggest contributors to Miami’s playoff success has been Duncan Robinson. Three years ago, Robinson played a big role in the rotation that helped the Heat reach the NBA Finals. Since then, he was taken out of the rotation despite a sizeable contract extension. It was a difficult period for Robinson to witness players like Gabe Vincent and Max Strus take his starting minutes. However, after the injury to Tyler Herro, Robinson was able to be inserted back into the playoff rotation.
Robinson came into the scene in Game 3 of the first round. As the series transitioned back to Miami, the Heat wanted to capitalize off their momentum as the Bucks were without their MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo. En route to a blowout victory, Robinson scored 20 points on 83 percent shooting from three. He does a terrific job of moving without the ball and coming off screens for easy looks. The goal for Robinson is to always be prepared to shoot. That’s his strength where he gives Miami momentum and helps increase their lead.
During the first round, Robinson averaged 9.8 points on 73 percent from three. The Heat made their way to the second round to face the New York Knicks. In this matchup, the team needed offensive production from everyone, especially as Butler was fighting through an ankle injury. Robinson may have been quiet for the first four games of the series, but Robinson stepped things up dramatically in Game 5.
Madison Square Garden is where great players have their best games. A lot of NBA legends including Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Reggie Miller, and others have made their mark in the arena. I’m not saying that Duncan Robinson’s name should be in the same sentence as the players mentioned. However, it’s always great for a player to leave his mark in the famous arena.
Game 5 displayed Duncan Robinson’s versatility on the offensive end. Not only was he showing efficiently from the three-point line but also making backdoor cuts for easy layups at the basket. Also, as the Heat were crawling back into the contest, Robinson made three three-pointers to bring his team to within four points. Despite the loss, Robinson scored 17 points in the contest and continued to shoot efficiently from the floor.
Outlook
I am predicting a Game 6 series clinching victory by the Miami Heat closing out the Knicks in Heat territory. As they continue their deep playoff run, players like Duncan Robinson must continue to shoot the ball at a high level. Despite spending so much time out of the rotation, Robinson is showing confidence in his shot and has remained ready when his name is called. The 2023 Playoffs have been a time of rejuvenation for Duncan and the Heat will need him to keep his momentum rolling as they look to continue their playoff run.
