Mitchell Robinson, the starting center for the New York Knicks, suffered a left ankle injury during Friday’s match against the Boston Celtics. A picture showed him in a recent game at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan, with a caption stipulating that he could be out until March while recovering from this injury.

Robinson is expected to undergo surgery and will be out for ten weeks. His absence will have a profound impact on the Knicks who are known for their strong defense in the NBA. He is the cornerstone of their defense, known for disrupting the opponents’ pick-and-rolls and generating fast breaks through turnovers by blocking shots or stealing the ball. His absence will dampen their defense, but the Knicks hope to evaluate him in eight weeks to determine his return to the lineup.

As a sports betting writer, it is clear that the Knicks will have to regroup in the absence of Robinson, with Jericho Sims and Isiah Hartenstein expected to fill the void. Sims has shown potential in the past, performing well when filling in for Robinson last season. On the other hand, Hartenstein has been contributing off the bench, offering valuable skills as an offensive rebounder and outside shooter. As for potential trade targets of the Knicks, they could look at the likes of Kelly Olynyk, Wendell Carter Jr., or Daniel Gafford. Interestingly, the Knicks recently made headlines in numerous trade rumors involving All-Stars like Karl-Anthony Towns, DeMar DeRozan, and Joel Embiid.

The Knicks are currently 13-9 and are favorites to make the playoffs this season, with odds of -360. However, the absence of Robinson could derail their ambitions. Their win total is set at 45.5 over/under for the season. Additionally, they are +2500 odds to win the Eastern Conference title and +6000 odds to win the 2023-24 NBA championship. The loss of Robinson is expected to impact the Knicks’ chances on the betting markets.



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