Fair or not, it seems like all eyes have been on Julius Randle since the All-Star break. There's no denying that the Minnesota Timberwolves' co-star has underwhelmed recently. During the 12 games after the All-Star break, Randle is averaging 15.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 3.9 assists on 42.5/21.1/79.7 shooting splits. Now with Anthony Edwards out for at least a week due to a knee injury, it becomes even more vital for Randle to get back on track.
Thankfully, Sunday's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder is a sign that Randle's slump could be behind him. The 6-foot-9 forward recorded 32 points, on 11-of-18 shooting, seven rebounds, and six assists. Still, Randle is inherently a volatile player, and it's fair to wonder how he'll fare as the Wolves' primary option even if it's only for four games.
It's also possible that Ant-Man missed more time since he will be re-evaluated (not cleared) in one to two weeks.
Anthony Edwards' injury makes Julius Randle even more important
Earlier in the season, Edwards missed four games with a hamstring injury. If you count the game where Edwards was injured (he played just three minutes), we can expand this stretch to five games. During this stretch, Randle averaged 27.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 5.8 assists on 56/37.5/87.2 shooting splits.
As the Wolves operate without a typical point guard, Edwards and Randle function as the team's primary initiators. For the time being, now it will all be on Randle for better or worse. Randle's point-forward-like skill set opens up shots for his teammates, and he can be used as a playmaking hub as well. However, if Randle has a cold shooting night, it's fair to wonder who will pick up the slack.
Jaden McDaniels is also in the midst of a slump. In the past seven games, he has averaged 8.7 points while shooting 15 percent from deep range. Hopefully, McDaniels gets back on track soon, but his recent play adds even more of a burden to Randle's shoulders.
I know many within the Timberwolves fan base have turned on Randle during his latest cold stretch. Regardless, I haven't, and I believe that he can step up during this crucial stretch. Undoubtedly, this could help him get back within the good graces of Timberwolves fans.
A great stretch from Randle could help the Timberwolves' goal of a top-four seed within reach, but a poor stretch could see them drop to the Play-In Tournament.
Of course, other factors will go into the Wolves' success without Edwards and ultimately the rest of the season. Nevertheless, Randle's play will especially be important during this stretch without Ant.