Mitchell Robinson Says Celtics 'Made Me Feel Like I'm a Threat' with Intentional Fouls

New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson appreciates the Boston Celtics' "Hack-a-Shaq" approach when he has been on the court in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Speaking to reporters after the Knicks' dramatic 91-90 win in Game 2 on Wednesday, Robinson explained the Celtics "made me feel like I'm a threat" by intentionally fouling him.

Robinson is the best defensive big man on the Knicks' roster, but his shooting limitations can make it hard to trust him in a playoff environment. He has a 52.2 percent success rate from the free-throw line in his career and just 35.7 percent in the playoffs entering this series.

The Celtics are well aware of this and have tried to exploit it through the first two games of the series, but they also understand the difference he can make for New York's defense and the benefit of getting him to the bench.

Their strategy has worked to some extent, with Robinson just 3-of-11 at the charity stripe through two games. The one free throw he took on Wednesday will go on the short list of worst attempts in NBA history.

Boston made the decision in Game 2 to foul him twice late in the fourth quarter in the span of one second before the Knicks were in the bonus.

Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau pulled Robinson at that point to put OG Anunoby back in because the fouls put them in the bonus and they were trailing 86-82 with 2:40 left to play.

Despite Robinson being out of the game for the next two minutes, the Celtics' offense was unable to take advantage. Their only points during his absence came on two Jayson Tatum free throws with 44 seconds remaining.

Robinson got the last laugh on the Celtics' final possession of the game. He was guarding Tatum one-on-one and forced him to drive to his left where the Knicks had help near the basket from Anunoby.

Mikal Bridges, who had been covering Jaylen Brown, stayed with Tatum and sealed the win with a block and threw the ball into the open court to ensure the clock ran out.