Julius Randle regression concerns are at an all-time high after the reigning Most Improved Player finished with just eight points on 2-of-9 shooting in Sunday's loss to the Bucks.
Randle also turned it over seven times in what was New York's sixth loss in its last seven games, the third time in that span that Randle has committed at least five turnovers.
But head coach Tom Thibodeau, who hasn't been afraid to call out his players in the past if he felt it was necessary, continues to support the struggling Randle, who hardly looks like the breakout star who led the Knicks to the playoffs last season.
"In fairness to him, it's an entirely different group out there," Thibodeau said. "He made a number of good plays and he's adjusting."
It indeed was a new-look group for the Knicks on Sunday, with Alec Burks and RJ Barrett, both typical starters, out on Sunday. But Randle's struggles stretch back beyond Sunday's clunker. Entering Sunday's game, Randle was shooting 33.1 percent from downtown (a number that will drop even further after shooting 1-for-5 from downtown on Sunday) compared to 41.1 percent last season, while his points per game have dipped from 24.1 to 19.5. Randle was expected to lead the offense this season, but instead has taken a major step back, seeing regression in nearly every statistical category on the offensive end.
Thibodeau needs Randle to find his efficiency from last season, but he appears far off from that level of play at this point. But Thibodeau isn't putting the Knicks' current struggles on Randle.
"Teams have loaded up on him pretty good, but [Sunday], he still tried to make the right plays, and that's the most important thing," Thibodeau said. "Some nights it's not gonna be great, but as long as you're making the right play, I see the work he puts in and I have the utmost confidence in him. The whole team does."
Follow Ryan Chichester on Twitter: @ryanchichester1
Follow WFAN on Social Media
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Twitch
