![]() ![]() Randle ended the half with 25 points as the Knicks took control of the scoreboard in the first quarter and didn’t let it up until late in the third quarter. This came after a subpar last few games in which he and the Knicks struggled to find their offensive rhythm. Randle came out in the first quarter and scored 18 points in the place he used to call home. Randle looked like he had something to prove against the team that drafted him out of Kentucky almost a decade ago. Russell had 13 points in the first six minutes of the game as he started hot from downtown and stayed hot from downtown. With stars for both sides out, it was Julius Randle and D’Angelo Williams that locked horns in the first half. Despite The King’s absence the Lakers had rattled off three straight wins and seven of their last nine. Los Angeles was again without LeBron James who will need at least another week before his injured foot is reevaluated. They were without Jalen Brunson and they needed a statement win after a couple of tough games. The Knicks were in the midst of a three game losing streak after winning nine straight and went into the former Staples Center on the third of a four game road trip. Julius Randle led his side with 33 points in the 112-108 road victory. While this season was very disappointing as he and his team failed to meet expectations, it’s way too early to give up on the former All-Star.The New York Knicks went into the Arena on Sunday and came out with a desperately needed win against the Lakers in LA. There’s clearly still a productive player here, Randle is just a year removed from carrying the Knicks to a top-4 seed. Fans calling for Randle to be traded or benched couldn’t have helped the situation either. Randle signed a four-year, $106 million extension that kicks in this offseason, and it’s clear that he wants to be in New York for years to come despite being booed off the court on multiple occasions. ![]() Personally, it’s tough to defend Randle’s on-court play, but his antics are to be expected of someone with such weight on their shoulders. Some defended his 20-10-5 statline, while others called out his poor attitude and inefficiency. Knicks fans’ opinions on Randle were divisive throughout the season. Coach Tom Thibodeau seemed reluctant to play them together, but they may need to move that way as Toppin continues to improve. Lineups that featured Obi Toppin at the power forward were much more efficient than those with Randle, however, one of the Knicks’ most efficient groups included both Toppin and Randle. The Knicks won seven of their past eleven games as their young guys saw increased roles. Moving forward, a role with Randle as the secondary or even tertiary scoring option might be beneficial for the Knicks.Īlthough not entirely his fault, Randle was part of a group of veterans who held the Knicks back from their ceiling. However, in the second half, he took somewhat of a back seat to RJ Barrett, who ascended to a 24 PPG scorer in the new year. In the first half of the season, Julius Randle was playing a role similar to the one he played in 2020-21, he frequently had the ball in his hands in isolation and led the team in shot attempts. His RAPTOR WAR (FiveThirtyEight’s Wins Above Replacement Model) fell from 7.7 to -0.9, fueled by his on/off rating of -9.5. His 15.7 PER was his lowest since his first full NBA season in 2015-16. ![]() Randle’s BPM (Box Plus-Minus) fell from 3.8 to just 0.5 in 2021-22. Moreso than his standard numbers, Randle’s advanced stats took a huge hit this season. His TS% fell from 56.7% to 50.9% but his shot attempts and usage rate declined only marginally. ![]() He shot just 41.1% from the field and 30.6% from three as opposed to the 45.6% FG% and 41.1% 3P% that he put up last season. He averaged 20.1 PPG, 9.9 RPG, and 5.1 APG, leading the team in all three stats. There’s no denying that Knicks fans expected more from Randle, but his raw numbers still look good. Randle followed up his 2nd team All-NBA season in 2020-21 with a massive decline in 2021-22. ![]()
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