Great. He plans on working out with Green this summer? That's great news. Also, love the support and encouragement from Green for Randle.
Randle is my favorite player on this team, but considering how well Nance is playing lately, there's no way he's getting back that starting role. Not this season anyway. I look forward to improvements in his overall game next year.
Bull in a china shop describes Randle perfectly. He gets real careless with the ball when he decides to push. When he takes it to the hoop, it will ALWAYS be with the left hand. A lot of offensive fouls due to lack of a mid-range game. He has A LOT of work to do.
^^^ Agreed on that. Also think he needs better coaching, to be in a real offensive system with plays run for him, not just creating on his own.
I actually think he can drive with either hand pretty effectively. Which makes the fact that he can only finish with one hand all the more baffling.
His offense has taken the biggest hit from the benching. Remember this is his first year of play. He's still learning and I feel like the shenanigans from Boron have undermined some of his confidence. It wasn't long ago that he was a double double machine. He needs to get back to being aggressive, especially down low. He should have been able to feast on Rudy Gay, but a lot of times either guys didn't get him the rock, or he backed out to the high post. I really think we've seen enough of that crap starting lineup that handicaps us every first and third quarter. Put Randle back in with Russell and let's see what the young guns can do.
He was once the young guy we felt was going to be the early favorite for leader of the pack, but he's been falling behind the curve lately. At least a small part of that was the benching, but that excuse doesn't hold water if you consider Dlo. Oh well, he's still young and has time to figure it out. And he's still ahead of Anthony Brown at least. But in all honesty, I am a little bit disappointed (maybe expectations were set too high).
I mean, I remember seeing the same thing with Clarkson early last season. Out of control, poor footwork, and one method of scoring. I've been critical of Randle lately, mostly because of his attitude, he seems a bit entitled, but he has so much potential to be great. He really needs to focus and work on himself, because Byron isn't going to give him the time of day if he's going to act like a child. JC was given an opportunity with Lin and Price injured, after taking time and playing in the D-League to develop, and worked hard to be good. Love the work ethic out of him. Randle, we'll have to see, if he has that work ethic. So far, it's not looking like it.
Randle's issue isn't work ethic. His issue is he has a coach who is a dummy and the only plays he runs for Julius are isolations. We know he has limitations and those have to be refined in the offseason, but in the mean time why isn't Julius used more in screen and roll. Why don't we run more curls with him? Why don't we get him on the box more where he's most effective? We ask him to basically drive one on one from the three point line/top of the key area. Yes he's got off the dribble capability, but he shouldn't be driving the ball that far out right now. Most rookie big men especially undersized ones would struggle with such ineptness from your coach. We are making things way too hard for him. Most of Julius' buckets come off energy and effort so now sure how you can really say his work ethic is lacking.
I have no fears of what he'll become. It was not too long ago this kid was dominating games and everyone was saying we won the 2014 draft with him and Clarkson. Where did his post up game go? Where did his little fader in the lane go? He's consuming less possessions trying desperately to fit into the team and he's not giving up offensive opportunities to Clarkson, Russell, and Kobe. That's going to make his numbers decrease. It's going to make his failed attempts look worse. In the last three games especially he's taken only 16 shots. He'll be fine. He's still figuring out the pace of NBA games. The good news is that he's slowing down a bit, finding shooters more, and still rebounding at an elite level. Time to get back in the starting lineup very soon.
My only qualms with him are the times he tends to "jog" down the court or seems disinterested when he doesn't get the ball. I agree having Byron doesn't help, and that we could utilize him more in the pick and roll sets. But, to be honest, Julius isn't a great finisher to the basket unless he's wide open. Through contact, he tends to through up wild shots hoping they'd go in. With his already innate driving ability, he just needs to settle down and go around the defenders instead of initiating contact. And since he doesn't have a solid jumper yet, he only has one option, and defenders know that. In the post, Julius doesn't have the length to be effective, and lacks the proper footwork to open up other options other than his usual bully ball. Remember, Clarkson also played under Byron and developed just fine. JC put in a lot of work though. So despite Byron not being the ideal coach, there is A LOT of accountability for Julius to put in the extra work and effort to become a better player.
Yeah, he's been scouted. Now he has too adjust; I'm just glad we have a coach who can help him. Oh, wait...
I think he needs to simplify his game and go back to basics first. He tries for too many circus shots and wild drives, just complicates things for no reason. I say dial that down until he's got some core moves he can go to 100% of the time, including a simple 15 foot jumper he can make even if he's not wide open. Once he's got all that, then he can add the flashy flourishes and stuff. Right now he really needs to use that speed of his wisely and try stay under control more.
I agree that he's having issues, but he also has to deal with the Boron hook coming after him. He's pulled him too many times for mistakes. No one can play with confidence if they think they will get yanked for the smallest error.
He's going through the rigors of being an NBA rookie right now. Hang in there Julius. I hope these type of games makes him hungry to work hard. He's a good player but very little is going well right now. Needs to work on his Jumper and his right hand. Absolutely has to
Hey, at least he didn't get pulled even with his struggles. He got to play the game out, which I think has to be positive for his confidence. I'm not thrilled with his demeanor out there and making the same mistakes on offense over and over, but he's gonna get plenty of time to make mistakes from me, this is his true rookie season.
He bounced back a couple games after the benching, but I think after the two games without being put back in, he started to doubt himself. Russell reacted much better to the tough love.