Julius Randle once again looked like a shell of himself on Wednesday night, shooting 2-for-11 from the field and finishing with just five points and a -27 in a win over the lowly and shorthanded Pistons.
It was the continuation of a frustrating season for Randle, who looked back to his old self on Christmas Day against the Hawks, but has since shot 7-for-31 from the field while playing lackluster defense.
After Wednesday's win, which included Randle and the starters being benched for the entire fourth quarter as the second unit mounted a comeback, head coach Tom Thibodeau explained that Randle may be battling some injuries during this rough stretch.
"He's nicked up," Thibodeau said. "He's given us everything he has, and that's what I love about him. He doesn't make any excuses. He just goes out there and keeps going."
Randle has been shooting just 38 percent from the field over his last 11 games, and has watched the Knicks fanbase turn towards frustration, as last year's Most Improved Player has been a liability on defense, at times showing little effort on that end, while struggling to find his shot. Thibodeau didn't specify what bumps or bruises Randle might be dealing with, but he and the rest of the team remain firm in their belief that he will turn the season around.
"Jules is still trying to find himself," Taj Gibson said. "Jules was phenomenal for us last year, but this year, he's gonna do the same thing. He's our All-Star. We gotta find ways to get him going, and we'll figure that out in practice…it'll come. It's a long season, but he understands what he has to do. He has all of us behind him."
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