The emergence of new Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson as the team’s primary ball-handler has helped free up power forward Julius Randle from the pressures of the team’s lottery-bound 2021/22 season, writes Steve Popper of Newsday. Popper notes that Randle has appeared to be more engaged with his teammates and a more active leader overall.
“I’m just trying to lose myself in the team,” Randle said. “Adding Jalen, our team another year starting playing together helps. But the big shot he hit in crunch time [Monday], typically they’re looking for me to go get a basket. For him to take that pressure off me is huge.”
There’s more out of Madison Square Garden:
- Brunson has already helped New York in late-game situations, winning the kinds of the games the team would lose last year, writes Mike Vaccaro of The New York Post. “We’re supposed to win game even when we’re not playing our best,” Brunson said. “That’s the sign of a good team.” Brunson’s arrival in New York reminds Vaccaro of the impact Hall of Fame point guard Jason Kidd had when he joined the then-New Jersey Nets in 2001. Though pundits were not particularly high on the Nets’ chances of title contention, Kidd promptly led the team to consecutive NBA Finals appearances in 2002 and 2003.
- Knicks starting center Mitchell Robinson has big goals now that he has signed his first big-money NBA contract, per Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News. The seven-foot big man inked a four-year, $60MM deal to remain in New York this summer. “Most people yell out, ‘When you get paid, you don’t want to work no more,'” Robinson said. “That’s the opposite of me… Even though I got a little bag, I’m still gonna work even harder now because I want another one. I want more. I’m hungry.” Robinson also indicated that he was hoping to eventually earn a Defensive Player of the Year award.
- Knicks reserve guard Quentin Grimes has been sidelined so far this season as he grapples with a sore foot. Ian Begley of SNY.tv reports that New York is holding Grimes out until he is pain-free. “They said it was kind of [an] overuse thing. Just being in the gym a lot [in the summer],” Grimes said. “Coming back at night, going back to Houston, working on it and working on it. Then [head coach Tom Thibodeau] had us in there for sure, working out.”
Randle needs to stop jacking up 3’s. A 30% shooter should not be taking 5 3’s a game. 2 per game max, move in <16-ft and play to your strengths.
I agree, unless he can somehow get back to his 2020-21 shooting numbers (41.4%).
One good thing is that he’s stopped jacking up long range 2-pointers. In the last two years, around 15% of his shots were from 16′ to the 3 point line. This year, through four games, he’s attempted zero in his 66 FG attempts. That’s a huge shift in his game.
If they stay patient and just wait for some of these ugly contracts to be on their last year, they could have the assets to really add to a good team finally.
Problem is this is still the Knicks. They are part of select group of teams with am amazing ability to mess up their own team.
imo, only Randle’s contract is truly ugly. Fournier will be an expiring $19 million deal this offseason, which could either be used in a trade or just keep him to clear the salary.
If they don’t pick up Rose’s option next year, they only have ~$136 million committed for 2023-24. If they don’t pick up Fournier’s final year, they only have $93 committed for 2024-25. Not too bad.
Although if RJ doesn’t get going with his shooting, his deal could look ugly in a hurry.
Randle needed to get his head out of his own rear-end, he constantly hindered this team’s offensive flow, and as a result hindered their growth last season as well.
This is what having a selfless, team-first PG can do for a team, and it was BLATANTLY OBVIOUS the Knicks needed a floor general like Brunson.
Jalen Brunson deserves all the accolades and positive press he’s getting. He is the epitome of what skill, patience, and hard work can accomplish when they’re put together, and I couldn’t be happier for the guy.
Knicks vs Bucks; Thibs you can’t wait until your team is down by 24 to react. You simply must be proactive, give your starters a chance to rest and bring in your amazing bench players. NTD (Not that deep)! Much love ❤️!!!!!!