Julius Randle’s potential game-winning, straightaway 3-pointer in the dying seconds that rattled in and out Friday night was a microcosm of his season.
It’s been up and down, in and out and — ultimately — unsuccessful.
The Knicks are 12-14 entering Sunday’s noon matinee against the defending-champion Bucks that will precede their Garden showdown Tuesday against the resurrected Warriors.
By Tuesday night, the Knicks, beloved by the city during last season’s pandemic, might crash to 12-16.
And the most obvious individual to blame — other than team president Leon Rose for a curious offseason — is Randle for not playing up to the second-team All-NBA level last season after signing a $117 million contract extension.
Before what became a 1-2 road trip, Randle said the entire team, and especially himself, had to “look in the mirror.’’
When asked after Saturday’s practice if he’s getting nervous about the predicament that has the Knicks in an 11th-place tie and out of Eastern Conference playoff position, Randle shrugged it off.
“What would I have to be nervous about?’’ Randle said.
Are you optimistic?
“I’m not optimistic,’’ Randle said. “I believe in my team. I believe in my team for sure.’’
One source believes locker-room leadership has started to become an issue. Randle is not a born leader, self-admittedly the quiet type, as is Derrick Rose.
Other leadership candidates would be hard-pressed to be the team’s motivational speaker: Kemba Walker, banished from the rotation; Evan Fournier, the struggling French newcomer not known as an orator; Taj Gibson currently out of the playing mix.
It’s up to Randle to lift this group out of the doldrums and one source said the forward can occasionally be a loner in the locker room. Randle, for certain, is moody with the media.
“I think we’re all trying to get it turned around,’’ Randle said when asked about the leadership. “We’re working at it and trying to get a better focus of what we’re trying to do.’’
Last season, Reggie Bullock was an influential voice as was zealous locker-room cheerleader Theo Pinson.
“When you look at the team, there really isn’t an outspoken leader,’’ one NBA source said. “You look at every team in the NBA, they have an outspoken leader. Is there an outspoken leader or is everyone being too respectful to each other and not wanting to voice their opinion?’’
Tom Thibodeau isn’t shy about voicing his opinion on anything but sometimes a winning group needs more than the head coach in the players’ ears. Thibodeau actually prefers leadership by example more than speeches from his core players.
“We want a team of leaders,’’ Thibodeau said after Saturday’s practice. “We want everyone doing the right things. That’s the best leadership you can have. Your actions reflects your priorities. You can see what’s important to everyone. How you practice, prepare. How you navigate through adversity when things aren’t going well. It’s all part of it, building habits, determination, will, perseverance. All the things we need to work through things.’’
Had Randle’s shot gone in, the Knicks would be feeling a lot better about where they’re at. The play was set up nicely by RJ Barrett’s kick-out pass.
Randle is shooting just 33 percent from 3-point land after knocking them down at a 41.1 percent rate in 2020-21. Randle’s overall shooting percentage of 43 percent is his lowest since his second season.
“I love the play RJ made at the end of the game,’’ Thibodeau said. “It was great read. Julius got to a great spot. The ball’s in and out. It was a hard-fought game. There were some positive things to build off and [we] know we’ll have to play a lot better [Sunday].’’
After 26 games last season, the Knicks were just 11-15 and had just traded for Derrick Rose, sparking a turnaround and 41-31 final record.
The Dec. 15 trade marker is Wednesday when free agents and draft picks are eligible to be traded, including Walker, Fournier, Quentin Grimes, Miles McBride and Jericho Sims.
Team president Rose has been extremely patient but his offseason has backfired. Thibodeau won’t play Walker and Fournier has been inconsistent with the coach often refusing to play him in the fourth quarter.
During the three-game trip to San Antonio, Indiana and Toronto, Fournier scored seven, seven and nine points. Fournier blamed his outings on eating a bad steak in San Antonio. One source said Barrett’s recent sickness also was due to food poisoning.
Randle said recent trip was not all bad.
“We had moments,’’ Randle said. “In particular I liked about the last game we gave up 30 in the first quarter and pretty much played lock-down defense the rest of the game.’’
Obi Toppin, who had a career-high in points (19) and rebounds (10) in Toronto, believes the Knicks’ malaise will turn.
“No one’s ever going to be perfect,’’ Toppin said. “We got to play and work as hard as we can to be close to perfect. Right now we have a lot of work to do. We’re not close to the team we can be. We’re going to find that groove. Everyone’s going to lock in.’’
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December 12, 2021 at 10:03AM
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Knicks may have a Julius Randle leadership issue - New York Post
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