MIAMI — It was a joke all the way back in February that Julius Randle was targeting an April 1st return.
April Fool.
An incident that caused laughter more than two months ago is no longer humorous, especially for Knicks fans. April Fool’s Day has passed on Monday, and we have new news that Randle will miss the next game against the Heat. It’s much easier to understand if the timeline has an explanation. But the Knicks, through their sole spokesperson, Tom Thibodeau, are providing medical updates, including on the Jets’ offense with Zach Wilson under center.
Please punt.
Please punt.
Please punt.
For example, the only official announcement regarding Randle was that he dislocated his shoulder and would be re-examined in a few weeks. That was on February 1st. Technically, he’s been on a daily basis ever since. One explanation I’ve heard, which seems perfectly reasonable, is that the risk of reinjury from a dislocated shoulder is high, so the Knicks will prioritize strengthening that area before the playoffs, and the number of games will be The idea is that less is more. In other words, you’re less likely to injure your shoulder. If true, Thibodeau wouldn’t have affirmed it when I asked him a while ago.
He talked about the answer.
So we’ve been stuck with the same Randall update for a month – “light contact with pad” – no explanation why this is moving like the Cross Bronx Freeway at 5pm Randall The biggest reason to believe that he will return is his high performance. A high-intensity solo training session before the match. He’s sweating for something. We know he wants to play. Few people in the NBA are more frustrated with DNP than Randle. Otherwise, surgery would have made sense a while ago.
OG Anunoby’s status is similarly murky, but he is reportedly closer to returning than Randle. Anunoby’s surgically repaired elbow setback was initially downplayed by both players and coaches. He was called “day-to-day” on March 18, but has now missed seven consecutive games. Meanwhile, wearing his short-sleeved shirt, his elbow was noticeably swollen. The Knicks finally gave it a name: “elbow tendonitis.”
Less than a month later, Josh Hart said he was “excited to have them back.”
On Easter day he said:
“I think this is going to be our team. I think that’s what we have to approach, they’re not coming back, and obviously if they do come back, we’ll be pleasantly surprised. I guess.”
Don’t get me wrong. A lot is at stake in these recoveries. Unlike previous seasons for this franchise, if two of the team’s top three players are inactive or ineffective when the playoffs begin, it will feel like a painful waste.
why? Jalen Friggin Brunson.
The point guard has put together a season in a Knicks uniform since at least Carmelo Anthony in 2012-13 and perhaps longer than that.
Longer.
Over the past nine games, he has averaged 34.3 points per game to lead the NBA, all without the help of teammates who are considered All-Star candidates.
The enemy team assaults and blitzes Branson, but they are still unable to stop him. It was a great watch. An unfortunate pattern during this period (including losing streaks) is that the Knicks completely lose momentum when Brunson is off the court.
He needed help, and Leon Rose’s acquisitions of Alec Burks and Bojan Bogdanovic didn’t provide any answers and only increased frustration with the second unit.
This is why Randle and Anunoby’s recovery is so important. And why is it so frustrating not to be updated? As Carmelo’s decline since 2013 has shown, repeat brilliance isn’t guaranteed.
It would be a shame to waste Branson’s.
