Knicks · In Randle We Trust... (page 1)

After having made the team out of training camp over Baker, Phil decided to give Baker the last roster spot over him b/c he got injured in a freak injury with an orbital fracture. We assigned him to Westchester unprotected, and Philly swooped in and signed him to a multi-year deal. Brown loved him, and the only reason they waived him was because they made a trade at the deadline and had to create a roster spot (and Randle was the casualty). In probably the only smart move Phil has made all year, he waived Jennings (who had no future with the Knicks and was disgruntled) and signed Randle for the rest of the year. Phil was fortunate to get a second chance at Randle.

Randle in his 1st meaningful minutes was a +27 in 26 minutes. When he came in the 1st half, we went on a run to come back. When he came in the 2nd half, we went on a run to come back and take the lead and never look back (he never came out of the game and Rose remained on the bench).

What I love most about him is that he's smart--a cerebral player. Something this team has lacked for a long time (Melo and Rose are known as being huge talents but having low basketball IQ's) Like Baker, he makes all the right plays, but he's more talented and has more upside. He could be a major rotation piece going forward. I'm glad we got Randle back. He is a 1st round talent to add to our core. I would sign him to a 3 year deal right now. In Randle We Trust.

I am not about to overrate him based on one game but I do think he should have gotten a roster spot but not over Baker instead Sasha should have been cut or put on the staff.

Hell yeah. I'm so glad we got him back.

In summer league, I remember the team lost its first two games that Randle didn't play by like 40pts. Then Randle started playing and all the sudden Baker looked solid and the Knicks won games. He also had a great October.

Wish he made the team earlier in the year, but glad he's here now. Hope he can stay next year, too.

Randle, Baker, Holiday all really good gets by Phil this past summer. All fit in and all show they can play within the team concepts. I love how Randle makes the initiation pass so quickly.

However I'm cautious. Great games, but both Baker and Randle are career backups IMO. I'll gladly take them, because to be a good team you need a good bench. So definitely please bring them back for next year. Randle doesn't seem like he can score well around the basket and Baker seems he can't score enough. Both bring other strong qualities but that's why I like them as backups.

Who knew cutting BJ would be such a positive move. I thought BJ really helped the bench but as it turned out, BJ has left and bench seems to be playing much better without him. Think maybe his erratic play and poor shooting really got them out of sorts, Much more steady with Baker, Holiday, and now Randle running things.

Randle is like found money!!! He should never have been allowed to get away. He tends to have a positive impact and that goes back to the summer. He is that rare young Triangle PG that played Triangle in College so he's well groomed and his mental make up seems perfect. Hope he continues to be successful.

nixluva wrote:Randle is like found money!!! He should never have been allowed to get away. He tends to have a positive impact and that goes back to the summer. He is that rare young Triangle PG that played Triangle in College so he's well groomed and his mental make up seems perfect. Hope he continues to be successful.

Didn't know he played Triangle in college. That's why he looks so natural in just giving the ball up at half court. Most point guards, their biggest issue with the Triangle is that they hate to give the ball up after the half court line and then move off the ball. Randle is very natural at that.

But I don't think he's good at scoring around the rim at the elite NBA level. That's my area of concern, If we play him regularly, I see teams figuring that he can't score enough around the basket and not fear his drives/penetration.

Randle showed more tonight than Baker has shown all season. Baker sucks-- combo guard with no shot = dleaguer
Randle is a true pg

BigRedDog wrote:Randle showed more tonight than Baker has shown all season. Baker sucks-- combo guard with no shot = dleaguer
Randle is a true pg

Baker doesn't suck. He's trying to make the transition to PG. He's also still learning the Triangle whereas Randle already knows it and has played PG.

He looked like a threat every time he touched the ball. If he can keep getting minutes I can see him having a huge offensive game before the season is out. Man we are lucky to get him back... the best thing is he said "glad to do it in this jersey".... he wants to be here. I love it man.... go Knicks.

BigRedDog wrote:Randle showed more tonight than Baker has shown all season. Baker sucks-- combo guard with no shot = dleaguer
Randle is a true pg

Baker has good passing insticts and plays well on D. The rest is the problem, yes. Baker needs to find a shot, or you can't justify his minutes. Hopefully Horny works with him on his shot release and all that, and he comes back next year atleast a good 3 point shooter. It's the easiest thing to improve and I think Baker's form is not bad.

Baker has a negative ws/48, I like the guy but dude has sucked.

nixluva wrote:

BigRedDog wrote:Randle showed more tonight than Baker has shown all season. Baker sucks-- combo guard with no shot = dleaguer
Randle is a true pg

Baker doesn't suck. He's trying to make the transition to PG. He's also still learning the Triangle whereas Randle already knows it and has played PG.

Baker and Randle have good synergy together and could become our backcourt of the future. They played great in the Summer League together and have skills that compliment each other. They're both triangular and neither needs the ball. They make their teammates better. Baker has to start making his shots and Randle just has to keep doing what he did tonight.

Baker equals Bobby Sura... I loved Sura back in the day. I can see Baker getting into that combo guard role off the bench. It's all up to him how he improves in the off season.

Randle reminds be of another former Cav..... Terrell Brandon.

You wont overrate based on his play against the Magic? Why not? I remember some thinking the team turned the corner when they beat the Magic a few days ago. The Magic have one of the worst rosters in the NBA.

yellowboy90 wrote:I am not about to overrate him based on one game but I do think he should have gotten a roster spot but not over Baker instead Sasha should have been cut or put on the staff.

He only had 7pts and 5 assists... but he seamlessly fit right into what the Knicks are trying to do offensively. He made his teammates better.... I hate the +/- stat but he was a +27 yesterday. He only played 25 minutes....i repeat,... we are lucky to have him back

One game......one game.......

No doubt it was good to see him play in the NBA in a knick uni.We'll love him until his defense starts to be a problem then we'll bash him and phil.
He is not a young rookie and there is reason why he was undrafted.

As for Baker, he earned his way on the roster, and earned his spot by sticking!!! Give the kid credit. He is a big guard who does have a shot, plays good d, and makes the right passes. Im rooting for them both!!!

NBA players sometimes need a bit of luck but when they get an opportunity they need to stick it. Both our yoots are working hard and making the most of it.

For now.

So im going to set it off.... if the Knicks keep trying to win and we end up with a pick that takes us out of range of the dynamic point guards.... I would be more than happy to develop Chasson Randle... in his case though. Outs mite like giving him minutes than developing him. The guy is self made. At this point it's about getting comfortable and adapting to the scouting against him. He's nothing like Baker.

EnySpree wrote:So im going to set it off.... if the Knicks keep trying to win and we end up with a pick that takes us out of range of the dynamic point guards.... I would be more than happy to develop Chasson Randle... in his case though. Outs mite like giving him minutes than developing him. The guy is self made. At this point it's about getting comfortable and adapting to the scouting against him. He's nothing like Baker.

I think there are only two point guards that are worth tanking for. They'll go 1 and 2.
Ball and Fultz.

If we wanted to grab them we needed to sell virtually a lot of our players by deadline or cut/waive them. Like I said many times the situation between 2014-15 and 2016-17 are quite different. That 17 win team was a tank show after the half way mark. This team just isn't built to tank, even if they rest players like Melo/Rose/KP they will probably still find ways to win against bad teams.

Best thing to do is what we are which is giving young guys like Randle, Baker, Willy more playing time. Using KP as a starting 5 now. These are all things we weren't willing to do early in the season. We're also running the offense that I think we will run next year from the start. So there's hopefully going to be some continuity and consistency for the players coming back, because there will likely be quite a few of them coming back.

Randle can be a good pro. I really like his game. He's a bit small but is longer than advertised... I confirmed this with draftexpress where he measured a 6'7 wingspan which helps.

Randle is a true combo guard. That term is wrongly used IMO to label a guy who lacks some key skill or size that makes him a true 1 or 2. A combo guard should be able to play either, and Randle can def score and he can def run the point. He looks much more an NBA player than Baker IMO who looks like he tries really hard but his less skilled an athletic then the guys he plays against. Randle looks more like he belongs.

I expect him to look good over this final stretch and I expect us to sign him to a longer rookie style deal like we did with Willy. 3 years to lock him up. I think he's a great prospect when you consider the source.

The guy he actually reminds me of? Tony Parker. Similar size. Parker doesnt blow you away with anything, he just seems to find buckets, open teammates, and wins. Both players have that 2nd gear and extra quickness that puts them in nice positions. I would thrilled with nice bench/rotation player on a nice deal, but I do see some nice upside w/ Randle. He's got a great BB IQ, and is a Stanford kid. How we let this kid slip away was a real booboo in my opinion. Getting him back was lucky. I think Randle has a legit shot to be good.

Randle is one of those guys that fell thru the draft cracks cuz he was older and they saw no upside. None of that matters in terms of how much he can help this team. Randle LITERALLY boosts his team when he steps on the floor and he showed this in Summer League.

He's proof that knowing what you're doing supersedes pure physical talent. Rose has all the physical talent even after all the surgery but no understanding of how to play the position!!!

I'm happy to see that he took advantage of his opportunity... but I'm more irritated that the Knicks play better with $45 million on the bench