Really fun game last night. Other than RJ's two bricked crunch time free throws, he had a great 4th quarter. 4 3s overall last night on 6 attempts. He's at 34% from distance which is steadily getting him out of non shooter territory. In fact, since Jan 1 he's shooting 39% from 3 which is decidedly a threat from distance.
Frank with another big time defensive play to seal the win. The story stays the same, if he can find a way to contribute on offense he'll get minutes. He's definitely jumped Rivers in the rotation, and if Elfrid gets traded at the deadline looks like he'll find regular time.
I someone still don't think is being made enough about Julius Randle's turnaround. The Knicks took a PF 8th overall this season because I would assume -- like literally everybody else without the last name Randle -- that they thought Julius would be gone after the year. He was a ball hog, a poor defender, an average shooter, an iffy leader. Fast forward one offseason and literally every night he is leading them in a number of categories and showing something new. Last night he held Sabonis to 15 points including a prayer banked 3 with 30 seconds left (Noel helped at the end due to foul woes) and had 4 steals. One of the most remarkable year over year turnarounds I've ever seen to be honest, and I don't think that's hyperbole. I'm actually curious if anyone can bring up some similar situations in the past, even across sports.
And then that leads into the Knicks as a team. 4th overall in the east. Still only .500, but coming into the year the question was "which top 5 guy makes the most sense in this loaded draft". Now they're on pace to pick around 20th. This is another situation I just don't remember there being another clear parallel for. Expected complete bottom dweller in the NBA turns into potential home court advantage team in the playoffs. It's a really fun group to watch too. The bench is active and gets hyped, they seem to love playing with each other. It's a really fun team to watch. I have friends from out of state texting me stuff about the Knicks for the first time in forever. Really did not see this as in the realm of possibilities this year, but wow what a pleasant surprise.
Going to be a sneaky tough game against the Pistons. Have to travel to Detroit, Taj is probably unlikely to play, and Noel just played 41 minutes. I really think they should consider bringing up Skal Labissiere from Westchester, who at least has played NBA minutes before and waiving Harper. I bet Obi gets more burn as well. Should be a fun one against a beatable team but with some challenges.
@TheNBACentral
The Knicks are 18-0 this season when RJ Barrett has a positive plus/minus.
Good RJ is really, really good. Bad RJ is really, really bad.
Randle needs to do some recruiting at the all star game
@TheNBACentral
The Knicks are 18-0 this season when RJ Barrett has a positive plus/minus.
Good RJ is really, really good. Bad RJ is really, really bad.
Just need some consistancy from him which I believe will come
He will, for sure.
Crazy
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Knicks get a redo on building around a melo type of player..
His offensive game is close to melos
or am i being crazy?
I admit I didn't watch the Knicks much during the Melo years (I don't like watching shitty bball), but from the little I did watch, I think Randle is playing more efficient team ball than Melo ever did.
Without looking at stats, my eyes say right now Randle is shooting at a significantly higher FG% and that's while taking more 3s. Melo took a lot more shots to get his pts. Randle's also keeping his teammates involved and is prolly averaging nearly twice as many assists as Melo ever did.
I'm enjoying watching Randle and these Knicks much more than I ever enjoyed Melo and those Knicks.
I also wouldn't be averse to keeping Noel around if we can get him on a player friendly deal. I prefer Mitch, but Noel has played really well this year.
haha
I also wouldn't be averse to keeping Noel around if we can get him on a player friendly deal. I prefer Mitch, but Noel has played really well this year.
He has only played 91 games and is 20 years old, I wouldn't limit how good he can be.
Not much out there in FA next season so need to use the draft capital wisely.
Package both picks to move up into the top 10.
Keep adding talent, don't give away assets right now. The team is super young and getting better and better.
eh, Reggie and Elf are 3rd and 4th on the team in terms of playing time and I don't think anyone is going to cry if/when they're gone.
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we all were saying how this may be the worst team in the NBA, now we are hesitant to give up anyone in the rotation to upgrade the roster..
eh, Reggie and Elf are 3rd and 4th on the team in terms of playing time and I don't think anyone is going to cry if/when they're gone.
thats true
Oladipo is such a bad fit for this roster. They need guys that can stretch the floor to open it up more for Randle/Barrett, not a guy shooting 32% from three and looking like a shell of his former self. Big pass!
It's becoming clear he's not who he used to be.
It's becoming clear he's not who he used to be.
The thinking is basically get him here see what he looks like for rest of the seaaon and how he fits..
Plays well you resign him, if not pet him go..
He's taking almost 8 3s per game as a Rocket. Basically the same number as James Harden this year. Once the shot selection improves his percentages will go back to their career averages.
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why trade for Oladipo?
It's becoming clear he's not who he used to be.
The thinking is basically get him here see what he looks like for rest of the seaaon and how he fits..
Plays well you resign him, if not pet him go..
I'd rather we "see what he looks like" from afar without having to give up anything for him. If you can't swing a deal for a better player at shooting guard, just stay patient and plug with vets like this year, or maybe you get lucky in the draft.
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I don't want him as a FA definitely don't want to trade for him.
Rockets' backs are against the wall he is not coming back, he is looking for big money in FAs and he wants to pick his spot.
I wouldn't be so sure of that though. He was playing alongside Brogdon and Sabonis in Indiana who are both having all-star caliber seasons, and he was taking just as many shots and 3s with the Pacers. Granted, small sample size for this year, but he was also taking same shots when he came back the end of last year too.
Do they have the patience to stand pat and not force a deal?
Knicks still have a trade exception and a ton of cap space could be the third team in deals to take on salary.
To me, if you can get him cheap, he only needs to be better than Bullock to make sense. The Knicks could definitely use another scoring option for nights when RJ isn't on. And they could definitely use someone who can get his shot off the dribble late in the shot clock. Randle is the only one who offers that now. That's not something RJ can do yet.
Randle has played consistently well all year. RJ has been up and down. Quickley too. When they play well, the Knicks win. Oladipo would offer another scoring option on nights when they don't have it. Considering we could take him into cap room, maybe Bullock or Rivers plus a second gets it done. It's just a half year rental, after all.
If he's got anything left, he'll be engergized to ride a playoff race into free agency. And if he regains form, maybe we offer him a deal, who knows?
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playing next to Randle and Rj, Oladipo wouldnt need to take as many shots and would get a lot of better looks..
I wouldn't be so sure of that though. He was playing alongside Brogdon and Sabonis in Indiana who are both having all-star caliber seasons, and he was taking just as many shots and 3s with the Pacers. Granted, small sample size for this year, but he was also taking same shots when he came back the end of last year too.
Like you said much smaller sample size but he was shooting much better in Indiana, 37% from 3, amd 47% on 2s...Averaging 20 a game..
Also Indiana has struggled since he was traded..
Very small sample but he showed he could still be the same player
I would take Towns over Oladipo.
He spreads the floor and would open up space for RJ and Randle.
Towns shoots the 3 at 39% career, is signed for 3 more years, and is only 25.
It would give the Knicks a young big 3 with room to add Free agents.
Would have to move Mitch in the deal and I wonder what it would take to get him here?
I am expecting Minny would want a ton but I don't hate them going after Towns.
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but Towns has to know WTF he'd be getting himself into if he came to the Knicks with Thibs. MAybe there was more to the Twolves disaster than just a divide between Thibs and Towns and even Butler. Who knows. Towns is certainly a talent but he just seems empty to me. Then again, we saw what Thibs did with Randle. Turned his empty stats into an all-star winner.
I would take Towns over Oladipo.
He spreads the floor and would open up space for RJ and Randle.
Towns shoots the 3 at 39% career, is signed for 3 more years, and is only 25.
It would give the Knicks a young big 3 with room to add Free agents.
Would have to move Mitch in the deal and I wonder what it would take to get him here?
I am expecting Minny would want a ton but I don't hate them going after Towns.
you are not getting towns without including tj and mitch
Great find. Impressive!
He is. Much as I'd love to see him on the Knicks, that was just a general comment that he's showing he deserves a shot.
Oladipo if we got him for pennies on the dollar id take a shot. Sometimes we greatly exaggerated a players issues. I mean how many were up in arms that we basically got Rose for nothing because he was a bad fit, well he is pretty key for us now. Oladipo def makes us better. Do i want to give up real assets, no. Do i want to pay him max money, no, but id see what he does for the next couple months.
If the Knicks could get Towns, they certainly would. I don't think it would mean they couldn't also try to get Oladipo for much, much less.
Problem is the 2 teams interested in him have cap space this summer to sign him
Selectively picking his one best season is misleading.
Selectively picking his one best season is misleading.
I was talking about the 9 games he played with Indiana this season after his injury, thats why i said extremly small sample size..
and he shot 36% from 3 in 4 seasons with indiana..
He hasnt played well in Houston