The numbers are low and so is the mojo Julius Randle at the moment.
After the second loss in the magical rebuilding process on Wednesday night, Randle openly admitted it was a poor performer and defined the team’s influx as “weird out there”.
Randall wasn’t the only reason the Knicks’ starting lineup struggled, but he’s the head of the snake and that head is suffering.
In the recent Orlando disaster, Randle scored just 13 points. When he got back to work four minutes earlier, he didn’t muster a shooting attempt. Something is not appropriate for the second team player in the NBA from last season.
“It wasn’t great,” Randall said of his play this season. “Like I said, a lot of this stuff is rhythm, trying to figure out each other. I think that was exactly how the season went. There were good days and there weren’t great days. That’s pretty much who we are now. We’re not a consistent team, a basketball team.” Consistent so far, but we’ll get there.”
Randle averages 19.8 points on 41.2 percent of total shooting — 35.1 percent of 3. All three numbers are notably lower than last season’s marks of 24.1 points, 45.6 percent off the field and 41.1 percent outside the arc.
In contrast, the Knicks went 3-6 from the start 5-1. The schedule was not harsh.
Still, Wednesday’s second home loss to Orlando in three weeks remains bewildering. The Knicks were overrun by the stretch.
Randle, who was a point striker last season, had to share it with a dominant ball-keeper at Kemba Walker, who also has the worst team minus 107.
In recent games, Randle seemed more lethargic than ever during last season’s tour. Meanwhile, the backup for Obi Toppin is coming. Toppin was plus 11 versus Orlando, and Randle was minus 21.
An easygoing freight train that seemed unstoppable last season, Randle took 11-10 shots from a 3-point range. He was in 4 out of 10 out of 3 and missed his only shot inside the arc.
“These are the shots that felt like they were there,” Randell said. I’m not trying to force her or whatever. These are the shots I felt were there tonight.”
It is unclear whether this is a shooting boycott in response to criticism that he is exercising too much isolation in traffic or simply a lack of confidence.
Knicks coach Tom Tebodeau seemed to support Randle, saying that magic was playing out in too many areas and nullifying Randle’s ability to move her into the group.
“The game tells you what to shoot, and they played a lot of areas,” Tibodo said. “I’ll look at the movie again. I thought a lot of them were wide open 3s. I trust him. If he’s open, I want him to shoot. So, it wouldn’t be perfect.”
Randle, who signed a long-term contract extension in August, knows things need to be rectified. Nothing would be more humiliating than losing to the Rockets 1-14 on Saturday to wrap up their three-game home run. The Knicks, who tied for seventh with a score of 76, faced the rookie Bulls in Chicago the following night.
As much as Randle has spoken in recent days about the lack of chemistry compared to last season, he doesn’t think there is any lack of camaraderie — a hallmark of the 41-31 team that broke a seven-season drought.
“It’s tough,” Randall said. “But we have a great group of guys, everyone together. Everyone loves each other. We come in and work hard, we just have to keep figuring it out. Keep our hearts in the right places. It’s a long season. Fifteen games, I know it feels like the end of the world here at New York, but it’s 15 games.
“I think it starts with looking at yourself. Everyone takes a look in the mirror, and sees if you give everything you have for the team, for the game.”
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