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

He looked really bad the first part of Pre Season last year & only came on the last 2 games or so..
I agree, he looks pretty bad out there, but I'm reserving judgement..
He always looked a bit awkward in his motions even in college.

 

So, i was watching the highlights of Paul Milsap and realized that he should be the player that Randle should model his game after. Randle could be more athletic version of Milsap.

 

millsap and blake griffin. the first step to each's improvement was developing a respectable midrange shot that they weren't afraid to use. they also both do work off the ball to make their lives easier on the catch.

 

I re-watched the game vs the Knicks. OK so we all are understanding of the fact that Randle hasn't played 5-5 in ages and he needs to ease back into it to get his timing down, his touch, and even his decision making. Cool - that's expected.

What I AM concerned about are his poor fundamentals and what seems like stubborness. He keeps doing the same thing over and over. Doesn't box out, ball watches, according to realdeal he sets poor screens and when he does box out its haphazard. Offensively he's a freight train with no driver. I think Bonk nailed it when he said guys have excelled all their lives in AAU and College using their talents and athleticism, so they never needed fundamentals.

It's coming full circle now, it seems, for Randle. He's going to have to go back to the basics. I did see a bit of hard headedness and stubborness though. Kind of like Kobe, but Kobe HAD the fundamentals from day 1. The work ethic was there.

I worry that Randle is so irrationally confident (usually a great thing) that he's going to have to hit rock bottom before he builds back up. From the bottom (fundamentals).

 

Here's a Russell right hand. In practice with no defender.

 

I think the fundamentals and discipline will come with time.

But what I do notice, and this is from last year too, is his body language. It seems like he is either fully engaged or not engaged. It might be his conditioning, but he's always the first one to put his hands on his knees when he goes in a huddle or a play breaks, like so.



He also always seems to lean forward when he ball-watches, as if he has poor eyesight, and kind of looks like he's amazed at what's going on...lol I can't really say if it's a good/bad posture because it's so unique to Julius.

Anyone else notice this?

 

I agree - then what's changed? I think he looked LEAGUES better in last year's summer league. He keeps saying his conditioning is not the issue. He goes full steam to the basket when he drives. I haven't noticed what tada pointed out above about spacing out and hands on his knees, but his defensive effort is definitely questionable.

What could possibly be the reason? Does he not like coach? The system? Is he upset that suddenly he has to compete with 2 young guns for the future of the franchise? I doubt that.

I agree that he hasn't earned any kind of stubbornness and honestly I want to start Brandon Bass as of right now. Not because I think he's more talented than Randle, because he's not. But because I want Randle to be motivated. He needs to watch film. A LOT of film. He needs to see how bad he looks and then slow down and discipline himself on offense. This is on the coaching staff too. Don't coddle him because he's a prodigy or whatever, bust his a** and create a burning desire in him to improve.

If he doesn't get motivated by that kind of stuff then I don't know if he's the right fit for the Lakers. I know he is, he just has some maturing to do - both on and off the court.

 

@Chillbongo Honestly I feel like he just needs ALOT more time on the court.

There's no doubt that Randle's overall game has taken a step back. But he hasn't lost everything. In fact, according to reports, a couple of individual skills like his jumpshot and handling have progressed. And his conditioning is better. He may actually be a better 1-on-1 player than he was last year. However he is much worse as a 5-on-5 player.

I've read somewhere that he's already watched a ton of film. I think he understands what he needs to do, but he's frustrated because his instincts just aren't there. His rhythm, feel, timing, and spacing aren't in sync with his ideals. Watching film will only widen that gap of reality vs ideal, leading to more overthinking. He needs time on the court, not the film room.

Every player is different, so it's hard to say when he'll get the 5-on-5 instincts back. I do think it's a gradual process....not an eureka experience.

 

One thing is for sure, If Randle can't outperform on the court with Kobe who takes double team, a player like Clarkson who takes the opponent attention and a great passer like Russel, he is not gonna do well in this league.
Add the fact he has less defensive responsibility with Hibbert in play.

 

It's going to be process ... coming back from injury , playing in a BS offense with little spacing ...

The only thing I'm worried about this season for Randle and Russell is Scott crappy offense ... which isn't going to help their development ...

Some fans need to relax ...

 

I disagree. 'Everyone' needs to understand that a player's potential is not predetermined by draft position. I actually feel he should have been drafted higher, and I disagree with your assessment that 'a #7 pick is not supposed to'become a star.' His draft position has no relevance to what my expectations are. I still see him as the future alpha of the Lakers.

 

You are wrong, the Lakers chose him because they thought he would become a star. Kobe said last year that if Randle dosen't succeed in this league with his potential and with the opportunity the team has given him, then he probably really messed it up.

 

It was a good interview. Of course he wants more minutes. Maybe that's what's holding him down. He feels like he's put in a ton of work to rehab the leg, and the coaching staff won't even let him get out there. Maybe that explains the poor body language and behavior.

Yeah, when I was referring to film watching, I meant to watch film of him NOW. Because he needs to see how ugly it looks and mentally correct those errors. Obviously playing time will help the most but it couldn't hurt to make him see how poor his decision making was the last 3 games.