Julius Randle on Knicks being outhustled by Miami: Maybe they want it more

By HoopsHype | May 8, 2023

What’s the buzz on Twitter? Fred Katz @FredKatzJulius Randle on the Heat getting all the loose balls: “Maybe they want it more. I don’t know. That’s been who we are all year.” – 10:56 PM Barbara Barker @meanbarbWow, Julius Randle just said what everyone was thinking when asked why Knicks are getting out hustled. Said Randle: “Just maybe they want it more. I don’t know. That’s been who we are all year. Got to find a way to step up and make those plays, keep this season alive.” – 10:56 PM Steve Popper @StevePopperJulius Randle on the Heat beating them to loose balls, hustle plays: “Just maybe they want it more. I don’t know. That’s been who we are all year. Got to find a way to step up and make those plays, keep this season alive.” – 10:55 PM Nick Wright @getnickwrightRJ had some legit moments that give you real reason for optimism that he could be a #3 on an awesome team. Jalen obviously can be an excellent #2. Hart, IQ, Grimes & Toppin are legit pieces.The question is if they can get someone to bite on Randle & make a significant upgrade. – 10:05 PM Fred Katz @FredKatzFinal: Heat 109, Knicks 101.Miami leads the series 3-1. They can close it out Wednesday at MSG.• Brunson 32-4-11• Barrett 24-4-3• Randle 20-9-3• Butler 27-6-10• Adebayo 23 & 13 – 10:01 PM Nick Wright @getnickwrightThe Julius Randle regular season/playoff splits for 2021 and for 2023 are just impossible to believe when you’re looking at them.From a fringe All NBA guy to arguably unplayable. Just an unfathomable drop off. – 9:54 PM Ian Begley @IanBegleyKnicks trail Heat by 7 with 1:11 to go and Julius Randle done for the night with six fouls. Any NYK comeback has been muted by club’s poor rebounding. Knicks gave up 4 offensive rebounds in first 5 minutes of 4th and 6 offensive rebounds overall in the quarter thus far. – 9:52 PM Marc Berman @NYPost_BermanThis is just a blanket statement. The referees blow the whistle way, way, way, way too much in this series. Randle done. – 9:48 PM Will Guillory @WillGuilloryJulius Randle picks up his 6th foul on a charge. The Knicks couldn’t believe it. He’s done for the night with the Heat up 7. – 9:47 PM Fred Katz @FredKatzJulius Randle’s night is done on a charge.Knicks growing increasingly frustrated with the officiating. – 9:47 PM Brian Mahoney @briancmahoneyRandle looks exhausted trying to rebound defensively but was no chance he was getting a break in the second half the way Toppin looked in his stint. – 9:38 PM Fred Katz @FredKatzThrough three quarters, the Heat lead the Knicks 90-81.• Randle 20-7-3• Brunson 19-4-9• Barrett 17 pts, 3 asts• Adebayo 20 & 9• Butler 20-4-9 – 9:20 PM Wes Goldberg @wcgoldbergAs everyone expected, this game has come down to the Knicks’ big three of Brunson, Randle & Barrett vs the Heat’s big three of Butler, Adebayo & Max Strus. – 9:19 PM Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeatHeat 90, Knicks 81 going into fourth. Adebayo and Butler 20 apiece, Strus 16 for Heat. Randle 20, Brunson 19 for Knicks. – 9:19 PM Surya Fernandez @SuryaHeatNBAKnicks shot 43.9% from the field in the first quarter, then 28.6% in the second. Barrett and Randle combined for 19 in the first, just 3 in the second. – 8:41 PM Fred Katz @FredKatzHalftime. Heat lead the Knicks 56-48.• Brunson 13-2-6• Randle 12 & 5• Barrett 7 pts• Grimes 6 & 4• Adebayo 16-7-2 – 8:33 PM Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBAHeat keeping Bam on the Knicks’ center for rebounding, leaving Butler to guard Randle. Unless they go to Love, hard to put Bam on Randle for that reason. – 8:18 PM Steve Popper @StevePopperRandle got going offensively — but Knicks defense still sloppy and they had 5 turnovers in the quarter. 31-30 Miami after 1. – 8:00 PM Barbara Barker @meanbarbHeat 31, Knicks 30. Randle has nine points in first quarter, one less than he had for the entire game in Game 3 loss. – 7:59 PM Fred Katz @FredKatzThrough one quarter, the Heat lead the Knicks 31-30.• Randle 9 & 3• Barrett 7 pts• Brunson 7-2-4• Adebayo 9 & 2• Butler 7-2-3 – 7:58 PM Stefan Bondy @SBondyNYDNStrange first quarter.Sloppy play from both sides.Julius Randle finishes strong.Cody Zeller running around like a chicken with without a head.Heat 31, Knicks 30. – 7:58 PM Will Guillory @WillGuilloryReally strong start to this game for the Knicks despite some terrible turnovers/transition defense.Randle and Brunson have given them the offensive punch they need. – 7:58 PM Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBAJulius Randle’s effort after that turnover was awful. Just sat there pissed off while his teammate forced a miss and 2 Heat were there for the rebound. – 7:46 PM Stefan Bondy @SBondyNYDNTerrible sequence from Julius Randle. THrows a lazy pass that gets picked off and doesn’t run back on defense, allowing Bam Adebayo to get the rebound for an open dunk. – 7:45 PM Steve Popper @StevePopperRandle with a turnover and throws his arms up while four Heat players go against Brunson – and the first shot is missed and Randle still at midcourt for the follow. – 7:45 PM Brady Hawk @BradyHawk305My adjustment take for game 4 prior to tip-off…I obviously discussed what they changed in game 3Now they have to shift again anyway with Grimes in for HartKeep an eye on this:Butler on BrunsonVincent on GrimesStrus on BarrettBam on RandleLove on Robinson – 7:13 PM More on this storyline During seven playoff games, he is shooting just 34.6 percent from the field and 22.9 percent from deep on almost seven 3-point attempts a game. Of the 118 NBA players who have played at least four playoff games and at least 60 playoff minutes, he ranks 113th in true shooting and 114th in effective field-goal percentage, the two best all-encompassing measures of efficiency. Meanwhile, no player surrounding Randle shoots nearly as often as he does. Miami defenders are swarming the middle of the floor whenever a Knicks driver, including Randle, approaches the rim. The Heat don’t trust New York’s 3-point shooters, a strategy that has paid off so far. The Knicks shot just 8 of 40 on 3-pointers in Game 3, which the Heat won, after shooting 7 of 34 from deep in Game 1, Miami’s other victory. -via The Athletic / May 8, 2023