So far, though, he's done nothing of the sort. With the newest Celtic sitting out the first two games since the trade due to flu-like symptoms, C's fans are still left wondering what KryptoNate can do for the men in green. Come Tuesday night, however, they'll have to wonder no more. Robinson is on a speedy path to recovery, just in time to take the floor in Boston against his former team.
Say hello to the Knicks, losers of seven straight.
When and Where
Tuesday, Feb. 23, 7:30 p.m. ET (CSNE)
TD Garden, Boston, Mass.
Records
Celtics (35-19, first place in Atlantic Division, third place in Eastern Conference)
Knicks (19-36, fourth place in Atlantic Division, 13th place in Eastern Conference)
Head to Head
This is the second meeting between the Celtics and Knicks this season. Boston needed overtime to win the first, surprisingly enough — Kevin Garnett broke a 105-105 tie at the final buzzer with a 19-foot jumper from the top of the key to finish off an unimpressive win for the visiting C's. Over the past six years, though, the Celtics have owned the Knicks, winning 18 of their last 22, a run dating back to March 9, 2004.
Skinny
At this point, the only positive thing you can say about the Knicks this season is that Tracy McGrady is sure to sell tickets. The Knickerbockers have no hope of contending this season, but by making a move at the deadline last week to pick up McGrady and his expiring contract, the team accomplished two things: they made the final two months of this season much more entertaining and freed up the salary cap room to make a serious run at a couple of max free agents this summer. The Knicks are bad now, but there's hope down the road.
Starting Lineups
Celtics
Point guard: Rajon Rondo
Shooting guard: Ray Allen
Small forward: Paul Pierce**
Power forward: Kevin Garnett
Center: Kendrick Perkins
**Pierce is questionable.
Knicks
Point guard: Sergio Rodriguez
Shooting guard: Tracy McGrady
Small forward: Danilo Gallinari
Power forward: Wilson Chandler
Center: David Lee
Stat Sheet
Celtics
The Celtics are 9-1 this season against teams in their own division.
They have 465 steals, third in the NBA behind the Warriors and Nuggets.
Rajon Rondo now ranks second in the NBA in total assists — the C's point guard has 514 on the season, while the Mavericks' Jason Kidd is just one off the pace with 513. Steve Nash, with 638 assists, leads the league.
Ray Allen shot 9-for-14 against Denver and finished with 25 points. He has 70 points in his last three games.
Since winning the three-point shootout over All-Star weekend earlier this month, Paul Pierce has shot 4-for-13 (30.8 percent) in four games.
Kendrick Perkins is having his worst month of the season offensively, shooting 52.7 percent from the floor and averaging 8.2 points per game.
Kevin Garnett has averaged 18.1 points and 11.6 rebounds against the Knicks in his career.
Knicks
The Knicks are 7-17 on the road this season.
They scored just 67 points in their loss to the Bucks on Monday night, just 26 in the second half. It was their worst game offensively since Nov. 29, 2007, when they lost 104-59 to the Celtics at the TD Garden.
Tracy McGrady has 41 points in his first two games in a Knicks uniform, which is more than he scored for the Houston Rockets all season.
Danilo Gallinari has made 343 3-pointers, second-most in the NBA behind Rockets guard Aaron Brooks.
David Lee had 13 rebounds against the Bucks on Monday, 10 on the defensive end. He has 486 defensive boards on the season, second in the NBA behind Magic center Dwight Howard.
Sergio Rodriguez had a whopping eight steals in the Bucks game. He has nine points, seven assists and nine steals total in his first two games with the Knicks.
Wilson Chandler is averaging 15.6 points per game this season on 47.9 percent shooting. Both figures are career highs.
Black and Blue
Celtics
Nate Robinson has yet to suit up with the Celtics because of flu-like symptoms, but his status has improved and he should play Tuesday.
Paul Pierce is questionable for Tuesday's game with a sore right thumb.
Knicks
Eddy Curry underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in January. He is now out indefinitely.
This Date in Celtics History
In 1989, the Celtics trade Danny Ainge to Sacramento after nine years in Boston. The C's ship Ainge and Brad Lohaus to the Kings for Joe Kleine and Ed Pinckney.
Overheard
"Nate’s a guard. We’re just going to wind him up and push him out on the floor and let him go right now. We can’t worry about trying to integrate him in our stuff. There’s not enough time right now."
–Celtics coach Doc Rivers, in Monday's Boston Herald, on adding Robinson to the roster for the stretch run
Press Box
Celtics
The Celtics had a rocky finish in the Rocky Mountains.
Nate Robinson is ready to go.
Nate wants to be a winner.
Knicks
The Knicks honored their past champions, but their current team lost pathetically to Milwaukee.
Tracy McGrady has been impressive.
T-Mac's the best Knick since … Latrell Sprewell?
NBA
Andrew Bogut had a big night for Milwaukee.
The NBA won't block Zydrunas Ilgauskas from a Cleveland comeback.
Is Allen Iverson walking away for good?
Outlook
The Celtics had a tough finish to their West road trip last week, falling apart defensively and losing a wild one Sunday in Denver, but they can get back on the winning track with a solid outing against the flailing Knicks.
If Nate Robinson is healthy and ready to make his debut and Rajon Rondo plays well at the point, the Celtics should have the energy and the quickness to cruise by a Knicks team that's struggled defensively all season. The Celtics are on their way to re-establishing their presence among the Eastern Conference elites, and a win Tuesday night would be another small step forward.
