Mitchell Robinson on Tatum alley-oops: the lob chemistry is already showing

BOSTON — Oct. 14, 2026 — Mitchell Robinson did not need a long night to make the point. In 17 minutes of Boston’s 114-93 preseason win over Charlotte, he went a perfect 5-of-5 from the floor for 12 points, grabbed seven rebounds (three offensive) and blocked three shots — and the loudest moments were the ones that started with a Jayson Tatum lob.

Afterward he sat for the postgame cameras and talked through catching those alley-oops. Danielle Hobeika captured the clip as Robinson walked through how the finishes with Tatum are already feeling natural in green.

Mitchell Robinson talks about catching alley oops from Jayson Tatum in his postgame interview pic.twitter.com/tRxO3Fn2FN

— Danielle H. (@DanielleHobeika) October 15, 2026

Pick-and-roll chemistry, and Pritchard as night and day

Robinson kept the same tone when beat writers asked about the pick-and-roll work. “It’s been great,” he said of developing that chemistry, per Justin Turpin. The connection showed on the floor in multiple Tatum-to-Robinson dunks and layups, plus at least one finish off a Paul George feed when the Hornets switched late.

He saved some of his strongest praise for Payton Pritchard, who finished with seven points and 11 assists without a turnover in 29 minutes. “He’s fast. He can handle the ball really well. Being in there with P, it’s like night and day,” Robinson said, per Noa Dalzell.

Mazzulla’s push — and what the night looked like

The new center also made clear that Joe Mazzulla is not easing him in. “He’s getting on my ass a lot. Which, you know, I need that. But he gets on my ass,” Robinson said, again via Turpin. Mazzulla, talking the same night about double-big looks with Neemias Queta, said Boston wants “every look imaginable” from a deep frontcourt.

Tatum led the starters with 19 points, eight rebounds and six assists in 29 minutes. Derrick White added 17 before exiting after a collision. Queta scored 16 off the bench. Boston forced 30 turnovers and owned the paint even while losing the three-point battle — the kind of possession game that fits why the Celtics traded for Robinson’s rim presence in the first place.

Why it matters

Preseason is still exhibition math, but Robinson’s night was a clean sample of what Boston bought: perfect finishing at the rim, offensive boards, blocks, and a postgame that sounded like a big who already trusts the passers around him. The Celtics close the preseason Friday in Philadelphia before opening Oct. 20 in Detroit. If the Tatum lobs keep landing like Wednesday, the lob package will not be a midseason experiment.