Post by irish2u2 on Feb 6, 2022 12:56:21 GMT -5
I have had issues with my arthritic hands and now I have discovered I have cataracts which answers some other questions. It's difficult for me to post these days but here it goes.
On paper it all seemed good what the Knicks did this off season. They lost to Atlanta because the Hawks ganged up on Randle and forced the Knicks offense to rely solely on Derrick Rose. So they add Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier and what they lose on defense they gain back in spades on offense. Not so fast my friends!! Kemba's knee issues are obviously a huge factor. When healthy he gave the Knicks an offensive option they lacked last season but his balky left knee has left us with a mere taste of that offensive ability and a severely diminished presence on defense. Evan Fournier seemed like the perfect replacement for Reggie Bullock because he could create off the dribble and penetrate. He does those things but the same issue that plagued him in Orlando is an issue now.
Consistency. For every great game Evan plays he seems to disappear in two other games. In fact consistency is a problem with the whole team. One game they play rock solid on offense or defense but seldom both. Sometimes neither.
But the big problem/issue/question is Julius Randle. It has been TWENTY games since Randle led the Knicks in scoring. That is a mind boggling stat but I think it goes a lot further than a perceived lack of effort. Either that new baby is robbing Randle of sleep or he has a physical issue that he is trying to play through because you don't go from the player we saw last year to the player we are seeing this season simply because of a lack of effort. Randle is still leading the Knicks in scoring, rebounding and assists for the THIRD year in a row. I haven't given up on him but right now the unthinkable is a distinct possibility and I'm not bothered by it. Randle is on the trading block. Last night's game was disappointing to me of course but Randle's stat line of 32 points, 16 rebounds and 7 assists against AD provoked this one thought. It should enhance his trade value. Blasphemy!! But let me remind y'all I have said many, many times the name on the back of thee jersey is never more important to me than the name on the front. It's all about the team. It should be an interesting week.
On the positive side we see some progress with the young un's. RJ is emerging as a star player though he still needs to tighten up that shooting stroke a bit. I love the Grimes kid and Mitch is starting to look like he has played himself into better condition to match that extra muscle. Toppin is still a question mark to me though the flashes of brilliance are tempting till you get to the long stretches of being invisible on the court. It might be a minutes thing which brings us to Thibodeau. I'm not thinking he is helping the kids all that much and once again he seems stuck in the same rotational rut especially without his security blanket Derrick Rose. Not playing Cam Reddish is puzzling because Cam is exactly what the Knicks need in an athletic, long wing who plays defense and has the ability to hit threes. I thought Thibs loved that kind of player?
Maybe the changes need to start with Thibs. Or not. The trading deadline is next Thursday and it should be interesting to see if the Knicks use any of the assets they have to get better this season or plan for the future. It should be even more interesting if the Knicks management jettisons Thibs in lieu for a younger coach who can relate and motivate the kids better. FWIW teams with better players are struggling as much as the Knicks and we do have some promising players.
FWIW this board is not in the ICU. It is in the ER so y'all do your part to resuscitate it.
On paper it all seemed good what the Knicks did this off season. They lost to Atlanta because the Hawks ganged up on Randle and forced the Knicks offense to rely solely on Derrick Rose. So they add Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier and what they lose on defense they gain back in spades on offense. Not so fast my friends!! Kemba's knee issues are obviously a huge factor. When healthy he gave the Knicks an offensive option they lacked last season but his balky left knee has left us with a mere taste of that offensive ability and a severely diminished presence on defense. Evan Fournier seemed like the perfect replacement for Reggie Bullock because he could create off the dribble and penetrate. He does those things but the same issue that plagued him in Orlando is an issue now.
Consistency. For every great game Evan plays he seems to disappear in two other games. In fact consistency is a problem with the whole team. One game they play rock solid on offense or defense but seldom both. Sometimes neither.
But the big problem/issue/question is Julius Randle. It has been TWENTY games since Randle led the Knicks in scoring. That is a mind boggling stat but I think it goes a lot further than a perceived lack of effort. Either that new baby is robbing Randle of sleep or he has a physical issue that he is trying to play through because you don't go from the player we saw last year to the player we are seeing this season simply because of a lack of effort. Randle is still leading the Knicks in scoring, rebounding and assists for the THIRD year in a row. I haven't given up on him but right now the unthinkable is a distinct possibility and I'm not bothered by it. Randle is on the trading block. Last night's game was disappointing to me of course but Randle's stat line of 32 points, 16 rebounds and 7 assists against AD provoked this one thought. It should enhance his trade value. Blasphemy!! But let me remind y'all I have said many, many times the name on the back of thee jersey is never more important to me than the name on the front. It's all about the team. It should be an interesting week.
On the positive side we see some progress with the young un's. RJ is emerging as a star player though he still needs to tighten up that shooting stroke a bit. I love the Grimes kid and Mitch is starting to look like he has played himself into better condition to match that extra muscle. Toppin is still a question mark to me though the flashes of brilliance are tempting till you get to the long stretches of being invisible on the court. It might be a minutes thing which brings us to Thibodeau. I'm not thinking he is helping the kids all that much and once again he seems stuck in the same rotational rut especially without his security blanket Derrick Rose. Not playing Cam Reddish is puzzling because Cam is exactly what the Knicks need in an athletic, long wing who plays defense and has the ability to hit threes. I thought Thibs loved that kind of player?
Maybe the changes need to start with Thibs. Or not. The trading deadline is next Thursday and it should be interesting to see if the Knicks use any of the assets they have to get better this season or plan for the future. It should be even more interesting if the Knicks management jettisons Thibs in lieu for a younger coach who can relate and motivate the kids better. FWIW teams with better players are struggling as much as the Knicks and we do have some promising players.
FWIW this board is not in the ICU. It is in the ER so y'all do your part to resuscitate it.
I'm disappointed in him now but as stated he still leads the team in scoring, rebounding and assists for the third year in a row. There is something going on behind the scenes that is affecting his play and his demeanor. In the meantime since I wrote my post Randle has led the team in scoring the last 2 games. Finally. BUT... I would trade Julius now if it means improving the team. Blasphemy a year ago. Bitter truth right now.