The Knicks’ load management plan with Mitchell Robinson is still working, but there’s an important step ahead

The Knicks load management plan with Mitchell Robinson can be frustrating at times, but it’s hard to argue that it hasn’t worked.

Robinson has played 44 games this year, already more than the last two seasons.

He is on pace to play more games this year than he has in the past three seasons.

The seven-footer has not played both legs of a back-to-back this year.

The Knicks have also sat him at times during busy parts of the schedule, even when it wasn’t part of a back-to-back.

All of this has made Robinson more available than he has been in years.

“We like the medical group we have,” coach Mike Brown said Sunday. “[Vice president of sports medicine] Casey [Smith] And [senior vice president of player performance] Quentin [Dolan] And [head athletic trainer] Anthony [Goenaga]they did a good job together with our doctors. They have led the way on this, so I have to give those guys a lot of credit.

“And starting with Mitch, because he bought into this plan and tried to execute it at the highest level. So I give all those guys a lot of credit for just jumping on the bandwagon and following their lead. To see him out there, because the best thing almost anyone can have is their availability, so to see him out there as much as he’s been out there has been really good for us.”

The most important step will be ensuring Robinson is healthy for the postseason.

The Knicks face the Raptors in Toronto on Tuesday and return home to host the Thunder on Wednesday.

Robinson is not listed on the Knicks’ injury report, meaning he will be available against the Raptors and will likely play against Oklahoma City.

The Knicks defense has been a roller coaster this year.

But it seems like they’re finding their feet in that area.

Over the last fifteen games, the Knicks have a defensive rating of 105.3, the best in the NBA over that stretch.

“I think this is just another example of where we can be defensively,” Josh Hart said after Sunday’s 114-89 win over the Spurs at Madison Square Garden. “We have to do that every night. Now it’s about getting better every day, getting better so that we can be the best team when we are in the playoffs. We have to build on that and not have any lows right now. It can’t be up and down.”

Monday marked six years since the Knicks hired Leon Rose as team president.