Julius Randle Discussion: Beast, Ox, Monster, Lotus Flower

Here's his last season's Summer League highlights for those of us that have forgotten a bit.

 

Kupchak compared Randle to Odom that he can't be pigeon-holed into one position. In some ways is apt but not yet. Odom was a great rebounder, capable on-ball defender, with very good handles and court vision. A point forward...stat sheet filler. Randle however is more explosive, physical and stronger. If he were to develop such similar attributes...look out.

 

There was a report from their head trainer on how they have rebuilt the way he jumps. Basically when he hurt his foot in high school it changed the way his body moved. For example, if your shoulder hurts when you raise your arm you'll probably use other muscles to achieve the same tasks as you would with your arm raised. Maybe you use your other arm, maybe you just try to jump to get things, who knows? The point is you start overloading other muscles and joints and bones. When he busted his foot, he started loading differently to avoid pain/discomfort in that area which caused to a bunch of problems in his kinetic chain that lead to his leg breaking.

Now, according to the trainer, they've rebuilt his kinetic chain and he should be loading better than he was before the injury.

 

^Amazing in the sports world today how we employ specialists to aid and correct specifics about how athletes use their body. I can think of the benefits it could have been to cases like a Bill Walton or a Gale Sayers.

 

I think they're very different in delivery, but the outcome can be the same. I also think Randle's attitude puts him in a much greater place than Odom. Lamar was almost always timid and you know I just a have feeling Randle won't be the same way...

 

Good point about each individual's mindset and approach. Odom was compliant and accommodating to a fault. Randle has that ferocity evidenced by those clips. In those Summer League and Pre-season games, there were comments that he tried to do too much...had to be reigned in a bit. So yes...Randle has that "take over" mentality.

 

Don't we all. I recall the Tommy John "bionic" arm rebuild. Back then it was a big deal. Nowadays...it isn't news as much. Not to take this topic off the rails, but how I wish they were able to put Bo Jackson's hip back together.

On Randle, it is good to see him rounding back into form. Seeing him go down, I had the same horrified, sick feeling reliving the James Worthy scene back in 1982.

 

Randle will be asked to do more than Odom did so no disappearing acts plus he had established vets like Bryant and Gasol to involve. To start with it is not his genes having played in a big time college program like Kentucky. He wants to do well, make a case for himself and lead the team on the floor. That is apparent in the few games I've seen him. I'm looking forward to Randle most of all this season. More so than Russell to be honest.

 

Get this book. Seriously. That's what it's about.

 

Much, much too early but if this keeps up...Karl Malone anyone?