Julius Randle had a monster game against the depleted Pistons frontcourt on Sunday, posting numbers that a Knicks player hadn’t reached since the Patrick Ewing era, Peter Botte of the New York Post notes.
Randle racked up a season-high 42 points and 15 rebounds in the 117-104 victory, the first 40-15 game by a New York player since Ewing accomplished the feat in 1996.
“Man, he’s a legend. Respect to him,” Randle said. “Just lets you know the kind of work that he put in when he wore his jersey. I’m honored and blessed to be able to do something that he did.”
Randle is averaging 28.6 points and 13.0 rebounds in 20 games since Dec. 7.
We have more on the New York teams:
- Randle said that coach Tom Thibodeau implored his team to perk up defensively after a five-game losing streak last month, Botte writes. “I think really since the Houston game [on Dec. 31], maybe, Coach, he got on us to really lock in defensively,” Randle said. “And I took it personally, because I felt like I wasn’t necessarily playing my best defense for those couple of games, whatever it was.” Entering Sunday’s contest, the Knicks had the third-best defensive rating since Dec. 31.
- Thibodeau has often been criticized in past seasons for rely too much on veteran players and playing them too many minutes. That’s the not the case this season, Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News notes in a subscriber-only story. Bondy points out that there are no Knicks among the top 20 in minutes per game this season and the average age of the rotation players is under 24.
- Ben Simmons sat out the Nets’ game against Oklahoma City on Sunday due to back soreness, Ian Begley of SNY TV tweets. Simmons, who has appeared in 31 of the team’s 42 games this season, played 26 scoreless minutes against Boston on Thursday but contributed 13 assists and nine rebounds.
“Randle is averaging 28.6 points and 13.0 rebounds in 20 games since Dec. 7.“
So tell me all about Randle ……. geniuses.
Me, I’d love to trade him now.
Love to see him in a Bulls uniform, make it happen Al.
Trade Randle and his giant deal asap, power forwards who can’t defend and play center are useless in today’s NBA
The Knicks record with him as a star speaks for itself…
One first round exit in 3 years?
Your the one that’s wanted to trade him for months so you tell us
WHY is Randle playing 38-40 minutes a game??? Is Toppin still recovering??? Thibs won’t play Reddish. They’re going to be worn out by March!
This guy has been great at every stop he has made in the NBA, truly a great player, Knicks fans do nothing but rag on this dude.
Without Randle the Knicks are the worst team in the East, with Randle they have managed to remain in the top 6 in the standings, which is truly a feat considering how competitive the East is this season.
So by that logic Randle has kept them mediocre at best, without a shot at a title, paying a huge contract AND preventing better draft positioning? MVP mvp MVP
By that logic your saying that a team should be playing for lottery balls?
You make the playoffs, you get seeded, you play for the title.
If you are in the top six, you don’t have to play in to the tournament, so as far as the Knicks go, top 6 is probably the goal for the regular season.
Who is healthy and playing good in April / May is anybody’s guess. Without Randle the Knicks aren’t in the top 6.
Knicks are in great position, Randle has proven to me he has the will power to withstand all the negative press he received Randle who has worked on his game gotten in the best shape of his life gets my vote as all star worthy of a few mvp votes as well. I knew last year when randle struggled was because of lack of point guard. Now you have someone who randle respects in Brunson now we have to continue building chemistry thats how you build a true team. Let these youn guys jell together.
Right now, I’d be very surprised if the NYK made a deadline deal involving any of their starters or Quickley. It’s year 3 for the current regime, and the team is coming along, in record, and in identity, culture. The deadline is the most awkward of times to reconfigure a roster, or any of the top options. That’s for tanking teams. If an age appropriate 2 way star become available, then sure, but that’s not happening.
Housekeeping moves are more probable. I think McBride stays as a Thibs favorite. But they could do something with Reddish, Toppin, Fournier, Rose and/or Hartenstein.
Why would Randle take this team anywhere. This is a rebuilding team. Why can’t we understand that. Thibs and this FO is half way thru their 3rd year. Building a team is about taking steps. We are not even a playoff team yet.
Best way Randle can help us. Is in a trade. He should be looking good to plenty teams now.
Randle, Mitch, Cam, Rose, Quickley, Fournier should all be shopped. We need a starting 2 or 3. Let Obi1 start at the 4.
Wake me when the Knicks start beating good teams on a regular basis. If anyone has been paying attention on a game to game basis, it should be clear that the Knicks have been beating up on mediocre teams and contending teams that have been missing key players. People forget that the Knicks top players have generally been healthy this season. Give them average injury luck and you could probably subtract a few wins.
I’m not trying to say the Knicks are bad, just that they’re a middle of the road team which looks better from afar. And it’s not going to get any better with Thibs, the stubborn fool that he is, riding his starters way too hard per usual. I would not bet on the 2nd half being as good as the 1st.
My point EXACTLY! I’m not concerned about the points nor the rebounds. The first thing I look at in the box score is minutes. I see 36-40+ (OT) consistently. Randle is going to be WORN DOWN late season. Then what? Thibs’ REFUSAL to play Reddish or Toppin should come back to bite his ass to get fired. My NYK’s are hanging onto the sixth seed; I’m a realist – fan since ’69 – I don’t expect that to last.
Randle is 19th in the league in MPG. Don’t worry, those 18 superstars ahead of him should be even more worn down by the playoffs, right?