We were getting punked in the first half by some no name D-League dude on one of the worst teams in the league and then Julius decided in the second half that s*** stops right meow. Blocks, defense, energy mixed in with some buckets to keep it close in the 3rd..... Game changer.
Superb effort by Randle tonight. Turned the game around for us completely. We were sleepwalking out there and Randle's energy just brought us right up. He and KCP seem to have some nice chemistry developing too. So many here have been so down on Julius, but he brings something to our team that no one else does.
Randle has finally figured out how to use his new, more athletic and higher stamina body on man defense and hedging on picks and protecting the rim. He's turned into a f****** beast out there. It's taken awhile but I'll say it again ..... without shooting 3s as well as Green and instead scoring more often in his own powerful, funky ways down low and in the key, Julius has turned into Draymond Green lite for us out there. He may still lose the matchup next time they play (or maybe not) but either way I can't wait to see the mano y mano battle between them next time we play the Warriors.
Randle in the 3rd initiated the movement and KCP wasn't to be stopped in the 4th. Those 2 guys were amazing. Kuz kept it somewhat close in the first half but the team had no energy. Randle changed that.
I agree. I wasn't able to catch the whole game, but just from watching the score in Chook's game it's easy to see Randle had to do with the comeback. In the 4th quarter he looked a little gassed, so Luke sat him for a couple minutes, and when Julius came back in he was fierce around the rim again. If he was always that fierce (and KCP), it'd be pretty damn difficult to move him. I love watching him work when he's aggressive.
Randle has improved so much this season. First of all, he is more mobile and his defense is awesome, if somewhat inconsistent. It seems he has embraced the small ball 5 role as well. Just have to be smart: for all his strength you can't put him on someone like Cousins and expect great results.
In a couple of years, as Julius starts to enter his prime at age 25, it is realistic to expect a defensive stalwart that gives you 18/10 every night with a 3 pt shot. Highly efficient on both ends, consistent, and energetic. I'm not sure I'd want to miss out on a player like that for a late 1st rd pick.
I really wanted to avoid this discussion, because I like Julius and want to be able to enjoy him, but this is pretty obviously a shot at my talks from a couple weeks ago. If you're getting this Julius every night, sure, it makes him difficult to trade. You have to admit that he was not (maybe still isn't) a part of the long-term plan and so what I was always saying was: eventually you have to think about moving him if you're not going to pay him. Even Woj went on tv before the game against the C Bags and said Julius wasn't in the long-term plans. I just don't want to go into the summer and the Lakers aren't expected to re-sign him and so he signs somewhere else and leaves for nothing. Or he signs an offer-sheet and screws up our cap space at a crucial time. It just wouldn't be prudent. If he keeps playing like this, none of that matters and we should keep him. Happy? I know I'm a hater or whatever and nothing but a LeBron fan, but there you go.
This was a game of two half’s. I was complaining in the game thread about a couple of bonehead plays Randle made early in the game but he was a different player in the second half. Kudos to him for his defense and “girt” the third and fourth quarter.
You’re both right. The Lakers shouldn’t be in a hurry to trade him, but if they’re hellbent (and confident) they’ll get 2 all-stars in free agency, then I get it. I’d love to find a way to get 2 stars AND keep him, but I understand that might not be possible. If they strike out on free agents, then it would end up being a foolish move by the FO. Just convince Julius to sign the qualifying offer with a wink wink guarantee of paying him the next summer. Deal?
Would never trade him for cap space or a second rounder. If he asks for some crazy money, do it. But not a second before that...
It wasn't a shot at you specifically. There are a lot of folks that are OK with trading Julius. And no one feels you are a hater... ...a Lebron nut-hugger? perhaps
