Italian Stallion
Benchwarmer
IMO, there are two things that are very certain about Anthony Randolph.
1. He's extremely raw and needs playing time to improve his decision making
2. He would be a highly productive rebounder and shot blocker for the Knicks if he was given minutes because he has already proven that at GS and in limited minutes here. He's been getting 11 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per 36 minutes throughout his career (even this year).
The real question is what is driving his banishment to the bench and how much his fault and how much is D'Antoni's?
We all know that when coach D'Antoni doesn't like your personality, work ethic, or something else about you he is willing to banish you the bench EVEN IF it hurts the team. He did that with Marbury and Nate and to a lesser extent with Hughes too. There were games and match ups where those players would obviously have helped the Knicks, but because they were out of the short rotation and in the doghouse he refused to play them. IMO that was was self destructive stubborn behavior.
With Randolph, he clearly got off to a bad start and then turned his ankle. That didn't help. But this kid has talent and we need rebounding and an inside presence badly at times.
You can tell his energy and enthusiasm are both low these days when he's on the bench and when he gets minutes in garbage time, but to me it seems as though he's depressed about his fall from grace.
We have to keep in mind that this is not some rookie that is just happy to be on a team (like Rautins). This is a player that was starting a lot of games for Golden at age 19 and age 20 (before he got hurt). He was also one of the hottest prospects in the league. Now he's a garbage time player.
I think in his mind he views himself as more than a raw rookie. He thinks of himself as a player that has a lot to learn, but that has also been around for awhile now and has shown he can play and be productive in this league.
I think his reaction is somewhat understandable. Even Mason has been grumbling a little about not getting a fair shake. All non rookies do.
In any event, IMHO we have a great prospect that is not developing, not contributing, not keeping his game sharp, losing his motivation and losing trade value every day.
What are we to do about this and whose fault is it?
1. He's extremely raw and needs playing time to improve his decision making
2. He would be a highly productive rebounder and shot blocker for the Knicks if he was given minutes because he has already proven that at GS and in limited minutes here. He's been getting 11 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per 36 minutes throughout his career (even this year).
The real question is what is driving his banishment to the bench and how much his fault and how much is D'Antoni's?
We all know that when coach D'Antoni doesn't like your personality, work ethic, or something else about you he is willing to banish you the bench EVEN IF it hurts the team. He did that with Marbury and Nate and to a lesser extent with Hughes too. There were games and match ups where those players would obviously have helped the Knicks, but because they were out of the short rotation and in the doghouse he refused to play them. IMO that was was self destructive stubborn behavior.
With Randolph, he clearly got off to a bad start and then turned his ankle. That didn't help. But this kid has talent and we need rebounding and an inside presence badly at times.
You can tell his energy and enthusiasm are both low these days when he's on the bench and when he gets minutes in garbage time, but to me it seems as though he's depressed about his fall from grace.
We have to keep in mind that this is not some rookie that is just happy to be on a team (like Rautins). This is a player that was starting a lot of games for Golden at age 19 and age 20 (before he got hurt). He was also one of the hottest prospects in the league. Now he's a garbage time player.
I think in his mind he views himself as more than a raw rookie. He thinks of himself as a player that has a lot to learn, but that has also been around for awhile now and has shown he can play and be productive in this league.
I think his reaction is somewhat understandable. Even Mason has been grumbling a little about not getting a fair shake. All non rookies do.
In any event, IMHO we have a great prospect that is not developing, not contributing, not keeping his game sharp, losing his motivation and losing trade value every day.
What are we to do about this and whose fault is it?
