gradyandrew wrote:

LivingLegend wrote:

EwingsGlass wrote:Randle 1 assist off of a triple double. The Knicks look their best when he’s racking up assists.

Specifically when he is assisting off natural action and not deciding I’m going to get an assist on this play.

I’m one of Randle’s biggest critics but he has been in a great groove with just playing naturally and physically and making the right choices shoot/pass.

When I see Julius play one of his really good games I always wonder what if he could just put it all together mentally — particularly when he plays downhill and doesn’t settle for the 3 he is just a load and even kids like Barnes/OG just melt away from his contact.

Very frustrating player for me.

Glad to see you coming around on Top 20!

Each of Randle's good seasons have had their different quirks. His first all-star season he was a great passer. A hard look at his shot chart showed their were basically 3 spots he dominated from: left elbow jumpers, right baseline, and left wing 3's. Once the Knicks hit the playoffs and Atlanta could take those shots away he became?mortal.

Last season he shot lights out from 3. It was open to pretty high variance because he's not really a great shooter. Luck played a part.

I think you hit it on the head about playing downhill. He's upped his % of shots within 10 feet from 37% last season to 50% this season. You can see him making a more solid effort to get into the point where his vision becomes a lot more dangerous. He's averaging 2.6 points per assist. Harden for example averages 2.3.

I think you need to lower your expectations a little and appreciate what we have. Randle was never meant to be this guy. Lakers and Pelicans both let him leave in free agency. Arguably in his first season here Morris and Portis played better. Those were the guys who contenders wanted. Guys seldom start getting the All Star buzz 7 seasons in. The only other late bloomer I can think of is Kyle Lowry. Randle has gotten to the top of the league through hard work and a coach who saw something others didn't. That should be cause for joy and wonder, not frustration.

Top 20 is your range definitely not mine but love most of what Julius is doing recently.

Like Michael Corleone - every time I think I’m 100% out on Julius he pulls me back in.

He is an elite athlete in terms of size/strength/speed/skill —— if that noggin ever fits properly and he has a few big playoff rounds —- LOOK OUT maybe Top 25 would be within reach.

Good stats on the paint touches and increase in closer shots —- it;s always been about attitude/ decision making with Julius even on bad shooting nights he can be productive if he just stays under control.

gradyandrew wrote:

LivingLegend wrote:Tonight was a rare game where we made enough plays not to set off the pacemaker down the stretch.

Aside from their great scoring/shooting tonight —— Hart/Donte were on a string with ball movement and defensive positioning.
Both were super aggressive defensively and on boards and they gave me the feeling that if Brunson/Mitch healthy and Julius making proper plays with Donte/Hart chemistry with Brunson as well —— we could have a legit closing 5 in big playoff games.

I love that Josh opened his mouth - Thibs told him to shut it and play and Hart has played 2 of his best games rather than sink/sulk.

Grimes - come on man - 1) barely looking at basket 2) if someone doesn’t hand him an open shot he doesn’t look within 10 feet of the hoop and 3) when he goes to basket he is completely out of control. He needs to hire Randle’s psyche guy.

We've seen this twice now right? MR complained about not getting enough shots before and now Josh did this week. Thibs rarely has anything negative to say in the media about his guys (ever?). Both times now it seems like those problems were addressed immediately and by the next game the players were happy campers. Says a lot about Thibs reputation for being a hard ass vs. the really of him loving his guys.

Man, I hope this team can win a championship one day!

Same here.

With Mitch on lack of shots it’s probably a situation where coach/vets assure him how valuable he is and he;s appreciated (I think that’s all he really wants). With Josh maybe he just needed the pressure to be aggressive because past 2 games he’s really looked to force action.

IMO - Thibs earns trust/love from his key players because he is undyingly loyal and you are correct Andrew that he won’t typically lay them out in public — it’s why the J-Hart comments were a bit unusual that he commented on his usage / role being the same. Without seeing the stats I felt the same way — don’t see a great change in Harts role — he just wasn’t being aggressive.

gradyandrew wrote:

LivingLegend wrote:
Top 20 is your range definitely not mine but love most of what Julius is doing recently.

Like Michael Corleone - every time I think I’m 100% out on Julius he pulls me back in.

He is an elite athlete in terms of size/strength/speed/skill —— if that noggin ever fits properly and he has a few big playoff rounds —- LOOK OUT maybe Top 25 would be within reach.

Good stats on the paint touches and increase in closer shots —- it;s always been about attitude/ decision making with Julius even on bad shooting nights he can be productive if he just stays under control.

I'm bustin balls here.

Over the past 3 complete seasons his win shares rankings were 21, 160, and 16. This season he's at 106 but if he keeps playing like he has been, he will shoot up the chart.

Some nights he looks Top 20.

martin wrote:

Tweet was deleted or there was problem with the URL:

https://www.twitter.com/iqfor3/status/1730774979464024292

What I love about these shots is no hesitation. Hesitation lets the defense catchup if they are a step behind on rotations. I also notice a lot of those points come off passes from Randle. I always say about Randle he is best as just a finisher but if you are going to be forced into ISO Randle it is best when he is a passer more than anything.

LivingLegend wrote:

ToddTT wrote:

Todd gets game ball.

I'm sure Toronto's cheerleaders are the most polite in the league

LivingLegend wrote:

EwingsGlass wrote:Randle 1 assist off of a triple double. The Knicks look their best when he’s racking up assists.

Specifically when he is assisting off natural action and not deciding I’m going to get an assist on this play.

I’m one of Randle’s biggest critics but he has been in a great groove with just playing naturally and physically and making the right choices shoot/pass.

When I see Julius play one of his really good games I always wonder what if he could just put it all together mentally — particularly when he plays downhill and doesn’t settle for the 3 he is just a load and even kids like Barnes/OG just melt away from his contact.

Very frustrating player for me.

I feel the same way but seem to have an easier time believing in the guy again after he makes me frustrated. Thing is, the way he played the last two games is really all we need from him and it’s still All NBA caliber play. He could average a triple a double without forcing it on this team. I’d like to see him start getting screen assists at a higher clip as his next move.

Alpha1971 wrote:Everytime the Knicks play Toronto OG seems not worth acquiring him. Yet his stats seem to indicate he would be perfect for them team. Did OG look good to anyone here I mean good enough to trade a lot of picks for ?

The thing about OG is that he is under utilized in Toronto due to their personnel meaning that I see a value play that he could deliver more than his cost. Just looking for a wing defender with more size than Grimes. When Perry says Barrett belongs back at SG, I truly agree. I’d rather grab Mikal Bridges, but man OG is my second choice. His injury concern make me unwilling to give up much more, but you have to assume that it’s two draft picks to get a guy like OG still.

EwingsGlass wrote:

Alpha1971 wrote:Everytime the Knicks play Toronto OG seems not worth acquiring him. Yet his stats seem to indicate he would be perfect for them team. Did OG look good to anyone here I mean good enough to trade a lot of picks for ?

The thing about OG is that he is under utilized in Toronto due to their personnel meaning that I see a value play that he could deliver more than his cost. Just looking for a wing defender with more size than Grimes. When Perry says Barrett belongs back at SG, I truly agree. I’d rather grab Mikal Bridges, but man OG is my second choice. His injury concern make me unwilling to give up much more, but you have to assume that it’s two draft picks to get a guy like OG still.

Doubt we are getting OG or Bridges. From my recollection from the draft a few seasons ago the guy to get for that size, defensive versatility, and ability to shoot the 3 the guy to get on the come up is Tari Eason. We got to get him from Houston

Alpha1971 wrote:Everytime the Knicks play Toronto OG seems not worth acquiring him. Yet his stats seem to indicate he would be perfect for them team. Did OG look good to anyone here I mean good enough to trade a lot of picks for ?

OG hasn't looked all that good this season. Raps should have traded him over the summer b/c ain't no way he's worth multiple first rounders anymore