2) Doesn’t have to constantly look over his shoulder at Obi making a play for his 37+ minutes now that Toppin is hurt?

3) Julius has found his joy? At least until he gets tossed, I guess

I wanna say the 9 man rotation. But Randle has started playing better during his 29 or so straight free throws he made. When his stroke is feeling good, his offense looks balanced and his impact increases.

I say it's between the whisperer and new lineup change (along with JBs leadership). Also, players who does not want their coach fired, usally step up. JB said publicaly, this is not on Thibs but on the players. And Randle respects JB more than anybody.

So could be a combination of things. I know one thing, Covid Randle is back!

Guy has a large bag of skills — it’s seemingly all about the mental.

He looks quicker - even stronger than I remember previously and he’s mostly been in great shape here.

PHysically his handle is tighter, the pump jump shot is falling and getting to the line. Seems to get to the rim quicker.

Last season he was flipping off the fans, not able to handle the pressure of being the number one option. Randle has the skills to be an all star, every season. But I dont trust him to be the key piece in a contender. Not the first or second option.

Thibs was blaming his teamates for not calming Randle down. Actually that's on the coach.

SupremeCommander wrote:I think the vibe around Randle is terrible.. I can't tell if the thread is actually in defense of Randle or if it is a joke

He ALREADY had one of the best seasons in Knicks history. He is playing inspired basketball now. But it is hardly his bet basketball and representing it differently is blatant misrepresentation

he's one of the best 25 players in the NBA. That remains true

Nalod wrote:

GustavBahler wrote:A few plays before Randle was ejected, before he got clobbered. Randle looked like he was agitated by something. Was playing like he was PO'd. Had a feeling that something was going to happen. Then after his first tech, Randle went to the other ref, and tried to get himself ejected. Whatever set Randle off, looked like it happened earlier in that quarter.

Last season he was flipping off the fans, not able to handle the pressure of being the number one option. Randle has the skills to be an all star, every season. But I dont trust him to be the key piece in a contender. Not the first or second option.

Thibs was blaming his teamates for not calming Randle down. Actually that's on the coach.

Dude, the guy just said it was on his mates to calm him down. Was it blame or was it “this is how we do it and it will next time”. Good team chemistry is guys play with and for each other. Phil Jax used to call time out and let his players sort out **** very often. They know what to do but the buy in and execution is always better when a well trained TEAM works together.
Sabonis is a master of drawing contact and dishing it. I think the whole team was getting frustrated by the calls yet Randle was getting hit.
Jules draws contact nearly every time to the hoop as he is also darn good at it. The call he drew his knee into Davis on a drive? Easy could have been an offensive foul. He has to chill out and stay in his rhythm.

The actual quote from Thibs is more revealing: (give or take) "We all have to help Julius out in that situation, the players, the staff, the whole team, we all have to do better for him."

Thibs never throws direct shade. He would never blame anyone like as had been suggested.

To me Thibs is often overly team-bounding praise-y. He is the exactly the opposite of what Doc did to Ben Simmons.

gradyandrew wrote:Randle has almost always played well when paired with a combo guard, someone who can create some momentum in the half court so that Julius can catch the ball in motion rather than trying to
make a play with the offense at a standstill. You can see Julius getting a lot more shots moving towards the basket than he has at any other time before his arrival.

This is dead on. He can set his feet and make plays instead of being mobile w dribble beforehand. He’s a lebron james body type— no one can match him physically. So when he goes to the basket he’s tough to stop and w his feet set he’s closer to a 40% shooter than 30.
And a step further. While no rose the Knicks with grimes McBride and sims player a D that realigns our success two years ago. So hopefully we escape Tgis injury bug and continue this good play

martin wrote:

Nalod wrote:

GustavBahler wrote:A few plays before Randle was ejected, before he got clobbered. Randle looked like he was agitated by something. Was playing like he was PO'd. Had a feeling that something was going to happen. Then after his first tech, Randle went to the other ref, and tried to get himself ejected. Whatever set Randle off, looked like it happened earlier in that quarter.

Last season he was flipping off the fans, not able to handle the pressure of being the number one option. Randle has the skills to be an all star, every season. But I dont trust him to be the key piece in a contender. Not the first or second option.

Thibs was blaming his teamates for not calming Randle down. Actually that's on the coach.

Dude, the guy just said it was on his mates to calm him down. Was it blame or was it “this is how we do it and it will next time”. Good team chemistry is guys play with and for each other. Phil Jax used to call time out and let his players sort out **** very often. They know what to do but the buy in and execution is always better when a well trained TEAM works together.
Sabonis is a master of drawing contact and dishing it. I think the whole team was getting frustrated by the calls yet Randle was getting hit.
Jules draws contact nearly every time to the hoop as he is also darn good at it. The call he drew his knee into Davis on a drive? Easy could have been an offensive foul. He has to chill out and stay in his rhythm.

The actual quote from Thibs is more revealing: (give or take) "We all have to help Julius out in that situation, the players, the staff, the whole team, we all have to do better for him."

Thibs never throws direct shade. He would never blame anyone like as had been suggested.

To me Thibs is often overly team-bounding praise-y. He is the exactly the opposite of what Doc did to Ben Simmons.

Now the old school coach wants to sound new agey lol. Part of Thibs job as coach is to keep their heads in the game. Always been a coach's job. Expecting (in so many words) for the entire organization to keep Randle from going off the rails, doesnt sound encouraging, or inspiring.

This sounds too much like shades of JR Smith. Wondering when he was going to lose it. Dont believe Randle is at that level of unpredictability. But Randle is unpredictable enough IMO for the front office to explore wether or not there are some teams out there who are in win now mode. Who would be willing to pay a premium for Randle's services. As you alluded to. Happens all the time.

As the third or fourth option. Randle's erratic play, and temperament is easier to hide on a contender. Not on a contender where so much is riding on Randle not being distracted.