Mitchell Robinson’s finger injury gives the Knicks their first Finals ache

The Knicks finally had time to rest.

That sounded like a reward. They swept Cleveland, closed the East finals with a 130-93 statement, watched Jalen Brunson lift the Larry Bird Trophy, and carried a complete rotation toward the NBA Finals. Then the injury news pulled the room back to earth.

Mitchell Robinson has a broken right pinkie finger, with no clear timetable before the Finals. He is not the loudest name on the roster. His playoff numbers are modest, and many nights he plays reserve minutes. But the Finals do not assign problems by fame. The deeper a team goes, the more small rotation spots begin to bite.

Robinson matters because he absorbs some of the rough work that would otherwise fall on Karl-Anthony Towns.

Towns has to score, stretch the floor and stay out of foul trouble. Robinson gives New York a different body near the rim. He does not need touches. He needs to hit first, box out, chase an offensive rebound and make opposing bigs feel the game. His free throws can invite intentional fouling, but if he cannot play, the Knicks lose a cushion in the middle of their rotation.

New York has won so cleanly that it is easy to forget another playoff truth: teams are not only playing opponents; they are playing their own bodies.

Eleven straight wins sound beautiful. A 12-2 postseason looks even better. The Finals will pull that beauty apart. If Oklahoma City arrives, speed and switching will test Towns’ feet. If San Antonio arrives, Victor Wembanyama’s shadow will sit in front of every drive. Either way, Robinson’s absence would not just remove a backup center. It would remove a piece of uncomplicated force.

The Knicks did not get here because of one reserve big. Brunson’s control, Towns’ spacing, OG Anunoby’s defense, Mikal Bridges’ length and Josh Hart’s appetite for loose balls are the foundation. But championship series often turn on the small pieces that keep the machine from shaking.

New York waited 27 years to get back here. Now, before the door opens, a small bone in a reserve center’s hand has made the whole thing hurt.

Before the Finals begin, you can sharpen your NBA player clues in WordleCup’s guessing game: https://wordlecup.today/en/nba/