NBA Twitter roasted New York Knicks forward Julius Randle for his performance in Game 3.
Julius Randle has had a great season, but the 2021 NBA Playoffs have proven to be a different story.
After posting career highs across the board with 24.1 points, 10.2 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game on 41.1 percent from 3-point range, Randle was a shoo-in for the league’s Most Improved Player award. Unfortunately, the New York Knicks star has mightily struggled in the team’s first-round playoff series against the Atlanta Hawks, and now NBA Twitter has turned those continued struggles into an ongoing punchline.
In Game 1, Randle finished with 15 points and 12 rebounds but only shot 6-for-23 from the floor. In Game 2, he tallied 15 points and 12 rebounds yet again but was just as bad from the floor, shooting 5-for-16. Through the midway point of Game 3, he had made only one of his 12 shots. It was already clear after Game 2 that the Knicks needed the MIP version of Randle, and the situation grew even more dire in Game 3.
Knicks Twitter was ruthless for another poor Julius Randle performance
As many pointed out, the numbers just haven’t been kind to Randle early on in this series:
Through 2.5 games in this series, Julius Randle is now 12 of 48 (25%) from the field
— Kirk Goldsberry (@kirkgoldsberry) May 29, 2021
5 of 16 from 3-point range (31%)
7 of 32 inside the arc (22%)
Randle 1-for-9 tonight.
— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) May 29, 2021
Only shot he’s made was that 3-point buzzer-beater at the end of first quarter - when he didn’t have time to think.
Slump may starting to get into Randle’s head. He passed up some open 17-footers, shots he’d take (and make) all season long... https://t.co/LhVSmT5EMG
Randle’s been the biggest culprit, but RJ Barrett caught some flak for his lackluster shooting as well:
Modern Society if Randle and RJ can give us something this series pic.twitter.com/nYxhqQLnYE
— NYKTerry (@NykTerry) May 29, 2021
Would be better for NY if Barrett and Randle didn't miss all their shots
— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) May 29, 2021
Another garbage half from Randle. RJ has been terrible too.
— ShwinnyPooh (@shwinnypooh) May 29, 2021
Randle and Barrett are 1-14 combined 💀 pic.twitter.com/E6iwQbHwsZ
— Bradeaux (@BradeauxNBA) May 29, 2021
RJ Barrett and Julius Randle on the Shanghai Sharks next season pic.twitter.com/HDJQAoZY0W
— emre (@kdninburneri) May 29, 2021
As should be expected, Knicks fans weren’t happy with Randle’s production, and many on NBA Twitter pointed out this New York team isn’t going anywhere unless he started turning things around immediately.
The Knicks aren’t winning this series unless Randle turns this around. He’s been awful
— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) May 29, 2021
Randle can literally turn the game around without scoring. But he’s gotta get his damn head in the game. If he doesn’t, he should get a rest
— The Strickland (@TheStrickland) May 29, 2021
The slander was very real, however.
https://twitter.com/DEADMAN_pt2/status/1398435650861424641?s=20
Randle catfished us
— YourRAGE (@YourRAGEz) May 29, 2021
https://twitter.com/Dubs4O8/status/1398434365697183745?s=20
Knicks fans seeing Randle struggle again 🙄😭🤣 #NYKvsATL pic.twitter.com/YmYKG9j4Iv
— Fun Guy (@FunGuyBurner) May 29, 2021
It’s been a tumultuous Game 3 for Randle. Aside from his struggles from the field and his team being down by double digits late in the third quarter, he also had a verbal altercation with John collins early on in the game.
Randle and John Collins exchanging words 👀 pic.twitter.com/zYVW7CZbfq
— ESPN (@espn) May 28, 2021
Hopefully Randle can turn things around, not only to avoid the slander, but because he’s had too good of a season to falter for this exciting Knicks squad now.