Michigan Basketball: Duncan Robinson goes off in playoff win

Former Michigan basketball player Duncan Robinson went off for the Miami Heat as the eight-seeded team in the Eastern Conference won Game 3 vs Milwaukee. 

It wasn’t that long ago that former Michigan basketball player Duncan Robinson was nothing more than a bench warmer with the Miami Heat.

Then came a second chance for Robinson this postseason and the one-time Michigan basketball sharpshooter is taking advantage.

Robinson didn’t get the start on Saturday in Game 3 against the Bucks, but the former sixth man of the year in the Big Ten for Michigan basketball was outstanding off the bench scoring 20 points in 24 minutes as the Heat rolled to a 121-99 win. He also made 5-of-6 3-pointers.

Robinson got six minutes in Game 1 of the series, another game won by Miami, which needed to rally against Chicago just to earn the No. 8 seed. Despite playing just six minutes, Robinson knocked down a 3-pointer, which seemed to ignite the former Michigan basketball standout.

Miami started Robinson in Game 2 after some injuries and despite losing the game, Robinson made 4-of-6 shots from deep and scored 14 points.

Duncan Robinson is getting confident again

If Michigan basketball fans who have followed Robinson remember, he was outstanding a few years ago against the Bucks as Miami reached the NBA Finals.

Well, that memory must be helping Robinson because, on Saturday night, he knocked down five shots from beyond the arc and in the process, became third all-time on Miami’s list for playoff 3-pointers with 98. That moved Robinson past Dwyane Wade.

It’s crazy how far things have come for Robinson who was once an undrafted free agent. Then, after bursting on the scene he signed a big contract ($90 million/5 years) and has struggled since.

This season, Robinson was shooting just 32.8 percent from three in 42 games and made just one start. However, it seems like he’s found his confidence and in shooting, that’s more than half the battle. We’ll see if it continues, but it was good to see Duncan look like Duncan again.