Thibs has Randle?s minutes down from last season (RJ?s too). Which is what everyone was complaining about last year (too many minutes for those two).
I love Obi, but he can?t pass like Randle. I?m looking forward to watching Cam play, but he can?t rebound like Randle.
So much criticism at Randle, but he?s our most versatile player because he literally does everything on offense (find the open shooter, shoot from 3, attack the rim) and he?s our best rebounder.
"Thibs has Randle?s minutes down from last season"
35 minutes is still too much for someone who plays no defense and has the worst efficiency in the NBA amongst high usage players.
"I love Obi, but he can?t pass like Randle. I?m looking forward to watching Cam play, but he can?t rebound like Randle."
Obi's movement without the ball is more valuable than Randle's empty assist. Randle averages over 3.5 turnovers per game for his 5 assist.
For example: Boris Diaw who was actually a passer who didn't over dribble, hold onto to the ball for 10-12 seconds or average a bunch of turnovers to get assist. This is the difference. Randle assist, Knicks need to sacrifice pace, pushing the ball and playing efficient basketball.
As far for rebounding, Randle has average 1.8 offensive boards and 1.2 offensive boards per game the last two seasons. He plays away from the rim more, so offensive rebounding will be less. But Randle doesn't even fight for rebounds, he gets out worked by guys like Jose Alvarado and smaller guards. This is a reason why Randle can't play center because we'll get destroyed on the boards and have absolutely no defense on the interior or pick & roll.
"So much criticism at Randle, but he?s our most versatile player because he literally does everything on offense (find the open shooter, shoot from 3, attack the rim) and he?s our best rebounder."
I can't say this is valid. Randle isn't our most versatile player for winning. He's our most versatile player for losing.
How many open guys Randle finds without committing 3-4 turnovers?
Randle shoots 30% from 3PT. career 33% 3PT shooter. The season he shot 40% was for his contract season. How did he shoot against Atlanta in the first round? Saying Randle can shoot is pretty much a lie at this point as he stands the lowest amongst efficiency. A more valid statement would be Julius Randle can shoot after missing a couple of shots and turning it over 3-4 times.
attack the rim?
Julius Randle averaged 6FTA last season, it's down to 4 FTA which is pretty low for a guy playing 35 minutes as a first option.
Julius Randle is a soft big who has a physical body but doesn't play physical.
Mitchell Robinson is our best rebounder and that's not an argument.
You're actually hurting Randle's case than saving him by mentioning this too, because if you can say Randle is our best rebounder, you basically can say anything without evidence.
I appreciate your effort in defending Julius Randle, but this season proves that Randle being our best and most versatile is invalid. He isn't our best rebounder, when Randle is on the court, we lose to teams in rebounding. Shooting, like I mentioned early, how can you say Randle shoots from 3, when he's well below league average? He's amongst one of the worst the right now actually. The passing thing I covered.
It's just not a realistic take because we're ignoring who Randle really is. Coddling Randle and not even admitting "yo, Julius has been playing bad, we need to rest him or have him get help", the take is "No, Randle is our best shooter, rebounder, passer, player, strongest and does everything in basketball", then you can see how off the take is. Randle this season has played worst than anyone I remember receiving high usage. Both ends matter, defense matters. If Randle averages 18 points on 40% and 30% shooting and gives up 30 points defensively, what good is 5 assist to 3.5 turnovers? What good is rebounding when you can't fight for offensive boards or even get back on transition defense and gets exposed on the pick and roll?
I believe as a forum, we don't want to conclude that Randle is really bad, But it's time to move on and grow out of this. This infatuation phase where were we content with making the playoffs last season but ignoring the reality that Atlanta embarrassed us and they're not even a top 6 team in the East. This should say enough. It hasn't. Now with the 2022 being wasted by Randle/Thibs....what else do you need to be convinced Julius is bad for NY?
