Very complicated start to the season for Julius Randle

This end of the first period, on the Pelicans floor, is a real ordeal for him. Julius Randle first goes for penetration on his weak hand (right) but loses the ball when initiating contact near the circle. Similar action, with the same hand, trying to push Zion Williamson into a foul.

But the New York interior doesn’t get a whistle and his snack shot is fortunately slammed away by Mitchell Robinson. Then there is this rise of the ball where the left-hander makes the mistake of jumping before impaling himself on Cody Zeller. Offensive foul and another lost ball.

On the next possession, Julius Randle is served in the post and draws the catch for two, but his poorly released ball is easily intercepted. Finally there is this 3-point shot, too long, just before returning to the locker room… This sequence of four minutes of play says a lot about his horrible game in NOLA and his start to the season overall.

Author of 12 points (4/15 on shots), 12 rebounds, 4 assists and… 8 lost balls, the All-Star player said, after this meetingnot wanting to look for oneself “ of excuses “. “ I just have to keep progressing. I have to take shots. I have to look at the images but I have to get back to them. They will fall in », Promises the 28-year-old.

Better shot selection

His outing against New Orleans confirmed his very complicated start to the season in terms of skill. The first evening against the Celtics, he scored 5/22 on shots… So much so that after three games, he averaged barely 14 points with a 28% success rate, data unworthy of a player invited to two times at the All-Star Game.

“ He is aggressive, he attacks. We must be better collectively. But we have to help each other be better. You can’t just say ‘I have to be better’ or ‘He has to be better’. How can we help each other collectively? Julius is going to attract attention, so we have to help him a little », Estimates Jalen Brunson, who does not shine much more with his skill so far (20 points average but 37.5% success).

His teammate’s aggressiveness cannot be questioned. His shot selection, as mentioned above, more so. At least the interior is mobilizing in other areas of the game, averaging nearly 12 rebounds and 7 assists after three games.

“Phenomenal” passing

“ I thought it was his best passing game. He was phenomenal. He had good intentions. […] But for the most part, he’s fighting to get by. I knew it would take time, you have to let it work », said Tom Thibodeau at the end of his match in Atlanta, ending with 9 caviars.

After the meeting in NOLA, the New York coach preferred to include the poor performance of his interior in that of his team, particularly on ball losses. “ It’s easier to think it’s Julius, but everyone has to work together », Demands the technician who thinks, like his leader, that the Knicks must do better when Randle is taken in two.

Far from the targeted trajectory of his best career season, Julius Randle still has 79 games ahead of him to get back on track. “ This is why we play 82 matches. So that everyone finds their rhythm. Making mistakes at the start of the season, everyone goes through that », puts into perspective RJ Barrett whose team travels to Cleveland next night.