Despite dealing with seemingly countless injuries, the New York Knicks are standing on solid postseason ground: with just about a month to go in the regular season, the Knicks (40-27) hold the fourth spot in the Eastern Conference and can clinch at least a Play-In Tournament spot with a win on Monday against the Golden State Warriors.
New York has gone nearly two months without three-time Julius Randle, who has been out since Jan. 27 with a dislocated shoulder. While Randle is expected to return in time for the postseason, the Knicks' changing landscape could make him more of a liability rather than an asset, as theorized by Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report.
"This one is, admittedly, a bit of a bummer, as Julius Randle has been scapegoated for his team's struggles far more often than his numbers say he should," Buckley said. "Then again, his playoff resume contributes plenty to that criticism."
"The Knicks have at least given him more support than perhaps he's ever had, so he might be able to better pick his spots and, hopefully, up his efficiency in the process. That said, there's a very real chance he'll be out of rhythm when the playoffs arrive, as a shoulder injury has sidelined him since late January, and he has yet to be cleared for full contact."
The Knicks look a bit different since Randle last took the floor, having acquired Bojan Bogdanovic and Alec Burks at the trade deadline. Developing team chemistry could be a concern with 15 regular season games left on the schedule and no specific timetable for his return.
Recent history is also a cause for concern: Randle rushed back from a late ankle injury to partake in last year's postseason run and averaged 16.6 points on just over 37 percent from the field.
Ideally, Randle would be able to partake in a few regular season games before the playoffs got underway, as he provides an undeniable spark: the Knicks are 11-10 since he dislocated his shoulder but the last three wins have been aided by the semi-return of fellow injured starter OG Anunoby (who won't play in Golden State on Monday).
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