Six Pack: 6 Takeaways From NY's victory over Miami

I gotta be honest with you guys - I don't know where to start. The Knicks' 106-104 victory over the Heat last night was yet another crazy, chaotic game in what has been a crazy, chaotic season. 

Let's break it down by examining six noteworthy takeaways.

1.  What a Year It's Been for New York's Newest All-Star

A few minutes before the Knicks-Heat game tipped off on Thursday night, the NBA announced that Randle had been named to the 2023 All-Star Team. Zooming out a bit, the circuitous route Randle took to Salt Lake City over the past 12 months has been incredible. 

At this time last year, Julius had reached the nadir of his Knicks career. In the 14 games he played in January of 2022, Randle averaged 16.4 points and 9.6 rebounds while shooting below 41% from the floor and below 25% from downtown. The Knicks were in the middle of a stretch in which they would lose 14 of 17 games, dropping their record to 25-38. Somehow, Randle's body language on the court was worse and more detrimental than his production. Fans were screaming for him to be benched or traded or jailed, or exported. He responded by telling them to f*ck off and giving 'em a big ol' thumbs down. 

Now, here we are, one year later, and Randle's headed to another All-Star game, joining Patrick Ewing, Allan Houston and Carmelo Anthony as just the third Knick in the last 40 years to make multiple trips to the mid-winter classic. 

I'm not sure any athlete in recent New York history has experienced the peaks and valleys over the span of just four years that Randle has weathered. 

The ultimate consolation prize after the Knicks failed to land KD or Kawhi with all that cap space in 2019, Randle struggled his first season in NY. He bounced back with one of the most productive all-around seasons in franchise history in 2020-21, earning All-NBA honors and leading the 'Bockers to home-court advantage in the playoffs. The following year, as noted above, was a nightmare. This season he's actually played better than he did during his All-NBA campaign.

Still, that doesn't mean there haven't been bumps in the road in recent months. Even in games in which he posts big numbers, there have been plenty of bumps in the road. On Tuesday night vs. the Lakers, Randle missed an open Jalen Brunson on the final possession in regulation and failed to get a shot off before the buzzer sounded. 

Last night vs. Miami, he finished with 23 points, ten rebounds, six assists, three steals, and three 3-pointers. His most important assist came with less than two minutes remaining, when he threw this absolutely gorgeous pass to Quentin Grimes for a huge three-pointer. 

But Randle once again committed a costly turnover in the game's closing moments, slipping at center court. In addition, had he simply dribbled out the clock with five seconds left on the clock instead of dunking the ball, the Knicks would have won without the wild drama that would ensue. 

Over those 48 minutes of action, ladies and gentlemen, we witnessed the full "Julius Randle Experience." It should be a ride at Great Adventure because, good lord, it has plenty of ups and downs and twists and turns. 

Most importantly, the Knicks registered a much-needed win despite playing without Jalen Brunson, who was sidelined with a non-Covid illness. And Randle, who led his team in rebounds and assists, was a major reason why they walked away victorious.

Then, in the post-game press conference, an introspective Randle gave some revealing answers when asked about the journey from 2021-22's bitter disappointment and the long, winding road to redemption this season. I found it fascinating. 

When asked about what being named an All-Star meant to him, Randle called it a "huge honor" and told a story about a conversation he had with Knicks assistant coach Johnnie Bryant during the offseason:

"Johnnie came to me in the beginning of the summer after I hadn't touched a basketball for a month and a half or two months. I just had to clear my mind for the grind, and he came to me, and we had an honest conversation. It helped me put my ego and pride to the side and adjust my game and look in the mirror and do what was best for the team," Randle explained. "[Bryant] asked about the year before and said something along the lines of 'If you were your teammates and saw you acting the way you did sometimes with body language, showing frustration, would you want to be your teammate?' I said 'no.' So I had to look myself in the mirror and take accountability and get better and learn from it."

Introspection is such an essential part of life. And we sometimes forget these dudes are still in their 20s and learning so much about themselves and their lives. As Elvis Costello once sang, "One day you're gonna have to face a deep dark truthful mirror. And it's gonna tell you things that I still love you too much to say..." 

Props to Randle for taking that difficult step and gazing into that mirror. 

Although there are still too many moments when Julius allows his frustration with a teammate or a referee to bubble to the surface (we saw several instances on Thursday), he's done a much better job controlling his emotions this season. And it's a major reason why the Knicks are winning basketball games, and he's headed to another All-Star game. 

2. Rowan's Revenge 

In Tuesday's loss to the Lakers, RJ Barrett sat for the final 12 minutes and declined to speak to the media after the game. On Thursday, with Brunson ruled out, NY badly needed RJ to bounce back and provide plenty of offense. Barrett did just that, pouring in a game-high 30 points along with eight rebounds and four assists in 41 minutes. Yes, he also had committed some bone-headed turnovers down the stretch, but the Knicks would not have been in position to hold on for dear life if RJ hadn't carried the offensive load for stretches throughout the second half.