martin wrote:HofstraBBall wrote:VDesai wrote:Wow I decided to get some rest after the first half. Randle was doing work. Apparently didn't do much in the 2nd half and the rest of the wolves were awful.Does Randle opt out of that player option? He's been really good down the stretch and in the playoffs and could be a $40mm+ player based on his level of play, but for who exactly? Not sure the suitors are there. He has a 31mm player option, which isn't bad, but I have to believe he thinks he's earned more and certainly a longer term deal.
Not sure what changes were made at half time but it seemed like they wanted Randle to be more of a playmaker since offense was struggling. Which Randle has done well when asked to be the facilitator this season. I think he is better as the second swing option off Conley creating and scoring off the pass. As he did in first half. Helps him stay away from too much ball handling. As more of a facilitator in the second half, he did a good job of getting guys open looks but they shot awful. But he also had several TO’s when he should have just shot the ball instead.
He has proven all the neigh sayers wrong. The ones who expected him to carry a bad team despite getting all the attention from an entire defense and despite having a cracked ankle in second playoff run.
I don’t see anyone beating OKC. Elite defense and the best player in the NBA right now.
Haven't seen enough of Randle during these playoffs but I get the sense that he fits better with this current roster.
Starts with Defensive Player of the Year Rudy. Has a pure facilitator PG in Conley. Alpha scorer and personality in Ant. Shooters and long defensive bigs around him off the bench. This situation is more ideal for him than anything he had while a Knicks player, and especially consistently while he was not hurt.
IMHO with a guy like Randle, you need an even more alpha scoring personality around him to make him better.
Think he has been exactly what he was in NYC. Just now has one of the top 5 players in the NBA next to him.
Wolves had a good defensive year. But we all knew that if he applies high effort, he was capable of being a decent defender.
At the end of the day, it was a win win for both teams. Both, imo, still needing a bit more to win a chip. But hopefully we get it done despite not being complete!
HofstraBBall wrote:martin wrote:HofstraBBall wrote:VDesai wrote:Wow I decided to get some rest after the first half. Randle was doing work. Apparently didn't do much in the 2nd half and the rest of the wolves were awful.Does Randle opt out of that player option? He's been really good down the stretch and in the playoffs and could be a $40mm+ player based on his level of play, but for who exactly? Not sure the suitors are there. He has a 31mm player option, which isn't bad, but I have to believe he thinks he's earned more and certainly a longer term deal.
Not sure what changes were made at half time but it seemed like they wanted Randle to be more of a playmaker since offense was struggling. Which Randle has done well when asked to be the facilitator this season. I think he is better as the second swing option off Conley creating and scoring off the pass. As he did in first half. Helps him stay away from too much ball handling. As more of a facilitator in the second half, he did a good job of getting guys open looks but they shot awful. But he also had several TO’s when he should have just shot the ball instead.
He has proven all the neigh sayers wrong. The ones who expected him to carry a bad team despite getting all the attention from an entire defense and despite having a cracked ankle in second playoff run.
I don’t see anyone beating OKC. Elite defense and the best player in the NBA right now.
Haven't seen enough of Randle during these playoffs but I get the sense that he fits better with this current roster.
Starts with Defensive Player of the Year Rudy. Has a pure facilitator PG in Conley. Alpha scorer and personality in Ant. Shooters and long defensive bigs around him off the bench. This situation is more ideal for him than anything he had while a Knicks player, and especially consistently while he was not hurt.
IMHO with a guy like Randle, you need an even more alpha scoring personality around him to make him better.
Think he has been exactly what he was in NYC. Just now has one of the top 5 players in the NBA next to him.
Wolves had a good defensive year. But we all knew that if he applies high effort, he was capable of being a decent defender.
At the end of the day, it was a win win for both teams. Both, imo, still needing a bit more to win a chip. But hopefully we get it done despite not being complete!
We won't be able to say who won until 1)One of us wins it all and 2) Randle re-upped.Financials played a big part in this deal. Randle is making it hard. Can they re-sign Randle and still keep Nazr. Does Randle opt in? There's a decent chance he doesn't after this run. What's his number if he does go free agency? OG numbers?
If he doesn't re-up in Minnesota, Randles options are limited. Brooklyn the only team with enough cap space to pay him more than his current salary (and the timelines there don't exactly sync up...). Otherwise, you're dependent on a sign and trade. Julius may be due a pay raise, but not sure where he gets it...
https://hoopshype.com/lists/2025-cap-spa...
MaTT4281 wrote:If he doesn't re-up in Minnesota, Randles options are limited. Brooklyn the only team with enough cap space to pay him more than his current salary (and the timelines there don't exactly sync up...). Otherwise, you're dependent on a sign and trade. Julius may be due a pay raise, but not sure where he gets it...https://hoopshype.com/lists/2025-cap-spa...
If Minny can swing it, I'd be surprised if they dont bring Randle back. Ive never seen him look happier than in game one of the WCF, before they lost. Isnt under the same pressure he was in NY, and it shows.
OKC looks unstoppable. Another team with a deep bench.
GustavBahler wrote:OKC looks unstoppable. Another team with a deep bench.
I seriously think that if we decided to put up consistently an effort like the one we showed in Game 6 against Boston, we would make it a series. But here is the frustration with this Knicks team: the talent is there, but for some reason we can’t make it a habit and we lack focus. Oh and talking about the bench, we could’ve developed that too. Oh well…
Knicksfan wrote:GustavBahler wrote:OKC looks unstoppable. Another team with a deep bench.
I seriously think that if we decided to put up consistently an effort like the one we showed in Game 6 against Boston, we would make it a series. But here is the frustration with this Knicks team: the talent is there, but for some reason we can’t make it a habit and we lack focus. Oh and talking about the bench, we could’ve developed that too. Oh well…
Thibs and roster don’t match.
I think Thibs tight rotation is not the problem. It’s the 7 players he’s playing is the problem.
OG inconsistent on offense
Mikal not involved on offense for long stretches
JB and Towns have zero impact on man defense.
Meanwhile deuce and Mitch are the ones saving this team, but the starting 5 is who Thibs lean on the most.
There should be a starting 5 and a closing 5. And sometimes JB or Towns or OG may not be in that closing 5 and that’s ok. But that’s an in game adjustment.
Julius with a stinker.
I didn’t watch, but might later today.
OKC's defense makes every team look really slow and disorganized and just plain bad. And their runs to end quarters and pull away is big. You need to play a low turnover game or you got no chance. And of course SGA's a great player and get's a lot of calls.
Beating them is a tough task but not impossible.
The NBA looked so much fun during the Semis. This start of the Conference Finals has been a bummer.
OKC isn’t a perfect team, but they are as close as one considering all the finalists. They have been well coached from the beginning and the focus has been to take every advantage possible out of the roster. They are a deep, well-oiled machine that plays their game consistently, with a powerful defense and a very varied attack. It really seems their championship to lose.
They make me value consistency and show me the biggest problem of this Knicks team. Why does NY look like world beaters one game, embarrassing chumps the next one? Our only consistency is our inconsistency. Disorganized defense, overuse of a very flawed starting lineup, an offensive plan that goes against the pieces on the team, the list goes on. It’s very frustrating that you never know what kind of a Knicks game you’ll get. With OKC, you really know.
If the twolves get swept do the Randle lovers finally stop?
blkexec wrote:Knicksfan wrote:GustavBahler wrote:OKC looks unstoppable. Another team with a deep bench.
I seriously think that if we decided to put up consistently an effort like the one we showed in Game 6 against Boston, we would make it a series. But here is the frustration with this Knicks team: the talent is there, but for some reason we can’t make it a habit and we lack focus. Oh and talking about the bench, we could’ve developed that too. Oh well…
Thibs and roster don’t match.
I think Thibs tight rotation is not the problem. It’s the 7 players he’s playing is the problem.
OG inconsistent on offense
Mikal not involved on offense for long stretches
JB and Towns have zero impact on man defense.
Meanwhile deuce and Mitch are the ones saving this team, but the starting 5 is who Thibs lean on the most.
There should be a starting 5 and a closing 5. And sometimes JB or Towns or OG may not be in that closing 5 and that’s ok. But that’s an in game adjustment.
We don’t have depth. Knicks traded depth for talent upgrades over the years. It was the right decision but now Rose has the impossible task of adding depth when the Knicks are already over the 1st apron. Regular season you can get away with playing scrubs like Shamet and Payne but they get exposed on deep playoff runs.
And the crazy thing is we might even lose more depth this summer if Rose trades KAT and Hart for Giannis.
Philc1 wrote:If the twolves get swept do the Randle lovers finally stop?
Negative.
Everything good about the Knicks has been made possible by Julius.
And the dude is a baller. His game has flaws, but he brings it every night. Just don’t pay close attention on the defensive end. 
Julius is a top three Knick over the past several decades. Fight me.
ToddTT wrote:Philc1 wrote:If the twolves get swept do the Randle lovers finally stop?
Negative.
Everything good about the Knicks has been made possible by Julius.
And the dude is a baller. His game has flaws, but he brings it every night. Just don’t pay close attention on the defensive end.
Julius is a top three Knick over the past several decades. Fight me.
You have him over Patrick Ewing, Carmelo and Brunson? The twolves are done Randle had a very good season settle down.
ToddTT wrote:Philc1 wrote:ToddTT wrote:Philc1 wrote:If the twolves get swept do the Randle lovers finally stop?
Negative.
Everything good about the Knicks has been made possible by Julius.
And the dude is a baller. His game has flaws, but he brings it every night. Just don’t pay close attention on the defensive end.
Julius is a top three Knick over the past several decades. Fight me.
You have him over Patrick Ewing, Carmelo and Brunson? The twolves are done Randle had a very good season settle down.
Ewing, Brunson, Randle.
Sorry Melo.
Tim Thomas thinks you should all fugazy off
Philc1 wrote:If the twolves get swept do the Randle lovers finally stop?
Potential KAT getting swept cancels this out.
