Going over to LakersGround it perplexes me how many of them hate Randle. They even said stupid s*** like he only gets rebounds because he misses which is the dumbest load of b******* I've heard especially considering most of his rebounds are defensive. The kid is already a double double guy. We know how Byron's "system" did him no favors and as for the mental mistakes on defense that's what happens when there is no communication with the coach and he doesn't preach how to be in tune, in communication, and not doing unnecessary things such as unnecessary gambles, switching, or doubling. There is a video by some clown on YouTube absolutely singling Julius saying he doesn't play with enthusiasm or energy. I was like are you f***ing stupid? There's a difference between having mental mistakes which lets face all the kids did and anyone pretty much who plays for Byron does and NOT working hard. You do NOT get 10 rebounds a game as a f***ing rookie by not chasing after boards and getting those loose balls. Randle isn't even a tenth of the player he's gonna be. I think Russell and Ingram will be better, but Randle will be a great third well to have. It'll be like having a more aggressive minded Lamar Odom. Another playmaker. On this team his peak will probably be 18/13. Pretty much prime Gasol numbers. I don't know that he'll ever reach his effectiveness level, but who cares? Don't need him to be. Randle is such a unique player. He's got the body type to play center in this league at least for stretches. Maybe not now, but soon. He's got the quickness to switch on smaller players as well as driving by slower ones. If he just limits the mental mistakes defensively he's at least average on that end. Offensively Randle is already basically a 12 or 13 point scorer without having a jump shot. If he ever gets a three point shot that means we could trot out a lineup of D'Angelo, JC, Ingram, Deng, and Julius. Who do you double off of? If he limits the mistakes mentally he can be a guy who switches we'd have at least three guys capable of that along with Ingram and Nance Jr. I see a better scoring, inferior defending version of Draymond. He has the ability to be a very good defender, maybe never great, but at least a guy will know where to rotate, when to help, and when to switch. The kid just has a fire about him. He goes after the ball as a rebounder like very few. If he just plays more under control Julius can be one of the most nightmarish players in transition in the league. He's like a bull he's so strong nobody is gonna get in front of that dude and you know one thing about Julius he ain't finessing it. He's gonna ram it down your throat. It's like a running back. Last year with the Cowboys you saw guys like Randle avoiding contact. Guys like Murray and the new kid will put their head down and finish the run. Same thing with Julius. I really don't know why some hate the kid. Maybe it's because we're the Lakers. Any other rookie averages 12/11 and they're being labeled a future dominant big man in this league.
The J and right-hand will come with time/reps, but honestly I feel Julius is best served as a defensive player on this team. He's got the lateral quickness and strength to be an elite on-ball defender. On offense, I want him to be active and work on setting solid screens. I don't like seeing him force things. I also want Julius to work on becoming the best rebounder in the league. Don't settle on being great. Strive to be the best.
It seems to me like some people think he's a second year player. He is now, but last season he's a rookie. Like some were just expecting him to come in and dominant off the bat after missing an entire season. Some people just need to temper their expectations. Julius wasn't a second overall pick like Russell and Ingram. Even if he's not a star player even with what he is now I don't think you're gonna lock back and regret that pick. Julius is already a solid NBA player.
I like Randle, and I too think he will be a solid NBA player, but the lack of right hand, jumpshot and short arms on an already short body will put a limit on how good he can be. I see Paul Milsap production from him...at his peak. Not bad at all as long as Russell and Ingram end up being special.
I am probably Julius's biggest fan on this site. I see a lot of myself the way I used to play basketball in him. A shorter guy who plays physical and attacks relentlessly. That's me except I do it at the YMCA and he does it for my favorite team. He's a hard hat type of player who comes in and gets his work done with stone cold confidence in himself. Still, he deserves an honest critique. He's been a slow learner. That doesn't mean he won't learn and won't develop. I have faith here more than most that he will, but in this new offense among our young kids I think he will be the one who picks things up the slowest. That's okay. We just have to be patient that's all. We've got plenty of time. And while that's happening, we can continue to encourage him to do the things he does well like rebound the ball and attack the paint.
I'll openly admit that I'm not a Randle fan. I just don't see "it". He's a fine player overall, but I don't know if he's a true building block piece.
I never said Randle doesn't deserve honest criticism, but people go overboard. Like I said people propose all these silly trade ideas like we have to get rid of Julius so badly. Yeah he has his faults, his flaws and he does have a lot of them. The mental mistakes on defense, the jump shot or lack there of, poor screening, not able to finish with his right hand, but all these things can be worked on and will work on.
I haven't seen a ton of trade ideas on here except for ones that involve Westbrook and I'm not sure that's silly. I think that's kind of realistic and reasonable. I don't think we HAVE to trade him at all. He's clearly a piece the Lakers feel they can build around. Last season they didn't even trade him for Cousins when Cousins was available.
Randle reminds me a bit of Blake Griffin in his first few years.. Freak athlete, but very awkward & unorthodox form.. Footwork around the basket & the weird angle he shoots the ball from says to me that he's rushing all the time.. He has all of the skills & the drive to work hard.. If he gets set up with the right Player Development Coach & learns to play a bit more under control... The sky is the limit for JR..
I understand rooting for guys, but Blake at 21 is probably better at everything than Julius. And I don't like Blake.
poor man's blake is more apt. blake had some semblance of an off hand and was obviously a MUCH stronger finisher in the paint. i see the similarities, but it's like the similarities between, say, mkg and gerald wallace. or something like that.
100% agree.. I was simply comparing the way they both would look awkward at times because of a lack of fundamentals & rushing things.. Blake is definitely a much better player & I wasn't trying to say JR is Blake. Blake was able to eventually slow down, get some real post moves & develop an outside shot & his game skyrocketed.. Hopefully JR can do the same.. That is all..
...let's see where Randle's at after his "rookie" season and how he fares under an actual offense that isn't patterned after the 1950's.
That's fair. I get that reasoning, but I can't help what I feel in my gut about Randle. Good player, good career, but someone you'll never see on a roster that's conference final bound. Again, just gut instinct. I hope I'm wrong.
I am not sure myself if Randle will attain superstar status but I would say that he could be an excellent player with proper coaching and the right environment. I still think of one poster who related how Jerry West really ripped on the young man questioning everything about his abilities. Again, we'll see... One thing Randle has going for him is his work ethic. Without it, he has no chance.
Even though he's not a 3rd year guy, Thon Maker is 30 and playing in the summer league. No excuses JC and Randle!!
