Hey, it works several ways in that the Knicks’ main color is blue and Julius Randle‘s season so far has made all of us blue! In Spanish, they call this “dos azul” but I’m not really sure who they are and why they’re talking to me. Also, I guess the Knicks’ other color is orange and I could have just gone with the better reference “Orange Julius” but nothing easy is worth doing or some such pedantic saying. Anyways, while I think most rational minds (does this count me?) had Randle marked for regression, I don’t think many of them expected this level of play in this amount of time unless it was the playoffs. (Yak-yak-yak.) So as the famous parlance of our time states: it is what it is. So after coming off an (as of this writing) 2-for-9 shooting performance (1-for-5 beyond the arch) with just eight points and seven (seis!) turnovers, one has to wonder where Randle goes from here and that’s why I’m here. Also to look good. But also to, you know, type stuff. Hopefully related to Julius Randle…
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While I’d hate to rehash some of the hot takes that have been permeating around the zeitgeist, I should at least mention that yes, Randle’s production this year has been causing some peripheral issues along with the obvious ones. And it isn’t just the New York Post dry humping the sensationalism as per usual, it’s actually been made known through multiple and major media reports that the team is pretty dissatisfied in all aspects of Randle’s game, including the dreaded death-knell label: “leadership issues”. Even though you can sense some sarcasm (SENSE IT), in my experience, there is always a bit of truth in such things.
As has been reported widely and lately, Julius Randle is a bit of a loner in the locker room and after a 2020-21 season that saw him elevate his game, averaging 24.1 points with 10.2 rebounds and 6.0 assists, the numbers thus far have led many to the conclusion that no one can step up on this team, especially it’s best player on paper. While I often shy away from gauging things that are by its very definition intangible, there is a bit of merit to state that no one else on the Knicks can really be the leader besides this quiet and emotional regressing player. And he shouldn’t be blamed for the fact that Kemba Walker and Taj Gibson are both pretty much out of the starting picture and that the other potential candidate Evan Fournier isn’t really a robust communicator in English that you would need him to be, well, you see the Knicks predicament.
Long-time Randle defender, coach Tom Thibodeau, is even starting to waiver based on the Knicks and Randle’s recent performances.
“We gotta look ourselves in the mirror and decide what we want the season to be. I know what I want it to be. I know what the guys want it to be. But we have to commit to it.”
Platitudes and generalities aside, Randle’s intangible worth to the time seems to now be tied to his tangible qualities, the skills he brings on the court to produce, and while it’s difficult to analyze both in a vacuum, in this situation, both seem to be feeding off each other, and that’s a concern that can easily turn into a self-fulfilling prophecy.
And that’s not the only foreseeable danger here with Randle’s season. Combine the fact that the lack of adjustments on the floor is a defining factor as well. I can’t tell you how many times Randle has been double-teamed and forced into a contested shot or turnover, this past Raptors game being a primary example. That’s both on Randle and Thibs himself, both should be executing a plan that can remain flexible and create something, not just running into a brick wall over and over again and thinking Randle would succeed if he wouldn’t just be so moody with the media.
So lets at least remember that his subdued line this year of 19.1 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 5.3 assists on average is tied directly to several aspects that can be seen on the floor, expected regression from last season, a lack of adjustments, and as alluded to above, any lack of role help. Is Randle a number one guy? Probably not, but when you have rotation issues that the Knicks are having (just the past two decades, amirite folks?), you have no choice but to rely on Randle. And while I think he’s a good player, it’s pretty clear to see that things are working out currently.
Whether the intangibles are affecting the tangibles or vice versa, it doesn’t really matter at this point. What matters is that we are reaching the stage where I can compare it to a snowball rolling down the hill, so topical now that we’re in winter. Is there a critical mass part where it all implodes on itself? Well, knowing the Knicks, an actual explosion is possible, but I’m weary to say this train has no brakes, to borrow another parlance. I think it’s better to say that there is still plenty of season left and whatever panic alarm you have should stay silent.
But at the very least, it should be on condition Orange.
I actually have no idea what that means. Basically, just keep an eye on it and know that your concerns are legit. Totally makes me think of the color orange. Right? RIGHT.
Jay is a longtime Razzball everything who consumes an egregious amount of Makers Mark as a vehicle to gain wisdom and augment his natural glow. Living in the D.C. area, he also likes spending time visiting the local parks and feeding lettuce to any turtles he encounters, including Mitch McConnell. You can follow him on Twitter @jaywrong.
