With Julius Randle out, who will the New York Knicks use as a power forward….
With Julius Randle out, who will the New York Knicks use as a power forward With Julius Randle out, who will the New York Knicks use as a power forward….
Due to a separated shoulder, Julius Randle will miss his first game of the season tonight. There are rumors that he won’t be absent for weeks, but for months.
With 4:27 left in the game against the Miami Heat, Randle was hurt going up for a layup when he collided with Heat forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. and landed on his right side.
This was a setback for a club that had won six straight games. The duration of Randle’s absence is unknown, although X-rays “didn’t show much damage,” per an ESPN report. However, there was no need for any disturbance on a team that has been performing so brilliantly lately.
What will the Knicks do now that the Iron Man, who never misses a beat and always plays through pain, will miss time?
The Knicks cannot afford any losses as they compete with the Philadelphia 76ers for third place in the Eastern Conference. These are the obvious choices the Knicks can make to cover for Randle and maintain the status quo until he returns.
In Randle’s absence, Anunoby—who has been instrumental in the Knicks defense being the best in the NBA in January—will be expected to perform at a higher level.
Since moving to New York, he is averaging 15.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 52% shooting. In two whole seasons, he has only averaged more points than that. With the Knicks, Hart is already a reliable rotation player. Over the last five games, he has played at least 26 minutes. Hart played 32 minutes after Randle was hurt on Saturday against the Heat.