Not picking on just Randle because our team defense effort was horrendous the other night but one play sticks in my head. When AD caught a pass near the baseline and did a very simple catch and go move right around Randle and he didn't do anything effort wise. That sums the other night up when we gave 80 pts in the paint to them even though we knew there legs would be head from playing 5 games in 6 nights.
That's been my major knock on Jules as well, which is why I don't think he deserves the max. Davis is missing Cuz, while we're missing BI. Yet Jules vs AD is no contest as of right now (Pels have been a top 10 defensive team since Cuz went down, in large part due to AD). Both get numbers, but only one can lead his team to victories. Jules puts up numbers but so does Biff....is that dude worth the paper he's getting? The Logo certainly didn't think so. Max guys push the needle and now we're in our 5th consecutive season with no playoffs, when prior to this pathetic stretch, we've only missed the postseason 2 other times since '76. Jules will look great next to stars, but he's no rim protector and is average at help defense. He's great at switching and mano y mano D, but if you want that next level defense, you need a rim protector. Just look at Rudy in Utah and Embiid in Philly. Utah is top 3 in team defense even with Rudy missing all those games. Philly is top 4 in defense with Joel unable to play back to backs. I'm not saying Donovan and Simmons ain't putting in the work on defense, but their defensive ratings are insane, in large part due to Rudy and Joel. But there is no doubt Rudy is the DPOY...his defensive impact on the floor can't be ignored. Since the all-star break (Rudy came back roughly 2 weeks before the all-star break), Donovan and Ricky Rubio are ranked #1 and #2 respectively in defensive rating amongst guards who avg. 30 or more minutes per game. You think either of those perimeter players put up that type of defensive output without Rudy in the middle? Imagine that type of dude in the paint while we have the active hands of Zo, BI and George out on the wing harassing people. (Zo is 12th overall in defensive rating amongst guards avg. 30+ minutes per game and George and BI are 19 and 25 respectively amongst all forwards). We have length, we got active hands, but we still need that rim protector. Brook is good insurance for 20 some minutes per game, but we need that next level big that can get it done. Its not all bad news tho....Boston and SA (Pau is doing work this year) are top 2 in team defensive rankings and they don't necessarily have a rim protector, but their team defensive schemes have led to some gaudy defensive stats. The team we're trying to emulate (the Dubs) are ranked 6th overall and unless you count Javana McGee as a rim protector, they don't got one either. So Jules can work on a top 5 defensive team no doubt...but he can't hold the fort down by himself. He's physically limited in that regard and I hope we can find a rim protector of some sort, so that we don't have to play a defense that heavily relies on switching everything. Btw: I'm still in the camp that favors trading away a re-upped Jules and BI for a player like AD (if he ever becomes available).
Haha, I had you in mind bro, when I brought up that max comment. I'm looking forward to Jules proving me wrong again tho. For the record, I would like Bron, PG and whoever to take less just to field a competitive roster. After what we saw with Kob's strangle hold on our cap and how a top heavy team like OKC looks, it's in the Lakers best interest for everybody to eat... not just the top guys.
If Lebron comes to LA, Jules is gone. If not, small chance. If Mavericks give Jules a 4 year max, Lakers match if Lebron doesn't come.
BI plays either the two or three, PG plays the other one, Lebron plays four and Randle at 5. Kuz is your bench scorer alongside Hart. What's the problem? If Lebron comes we want Randle here to play with him!
You're assuming George will be here too? Even so, George will start at SG, Ingram will be our SF, and Lebron and Randle will be oir bigs. No problem.
F*** those refs. Randle has 6 free throws before being intentionally fouled, and he was mauled all night long. Dude got the Shaq treatment on offense, he’s allowed to be pushed and smacked all game because he’s strong, screw that.
We're 3-4 over that stretch against 6 playoff teams, without Ingram and Hart, and 4 G-leaguers in Wear, Caruso, Anus and Zubac getting heavy minutes. I'm impressed with how Randle has held the fort during this rough stretch.
