Miami Heat guard Duncan Robinson started every game in the 2020 NBA playoffs, but his postseason role has since diminished.
Robinson averaged just 12 minutes in last year’s playoffs, after playing 28 minutes per game in the regular season. The 30-year-old excelled at three-point range when he was able to shoot consistently, shooting 39.5 percent on seven attempts.
An NBA scout spoke with Miami Heat’s Anthony Pasciolla On SI to find out why this is the biggest mystery to them.
“I always wonder why, when it comes to the playoffs, that’s the biggest mystery to me. Robinson doesn’t see the court,” said one NBA scout who spoke on the condition of anonymity. “I know he struggled defensively, but when they got to the Finals two years ago, he stepped up. I think he stepped up more than Bam did. It was obvious. They pay him a lot of money.”
While the scout is willing to say that Robinson’s progress is greater than that of the three-time All-Star, it’s even harder to imagine what’s causing his lack of playing time. While his defense is mediocre, winning a championship without an X-factor is nearly impossible.
The Boston Celtics had Derrick White, the Denver Nuggets had Bruce Brown, and the Golden State Warriors got good players in Andrew Wiggins and Gary Payton II. Robinson is a driving force in the regular season, so what’s stopping the coaching staff from letting him play in the playoffs?
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Anthony Pasciolla works as a contributing writer for Miami Heat On SI. You can contact him at [email protected] or follow him on X @AnthonyPasci.
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