3 things Julius Randle needs to do to bounce back from a disappointing 2021 NBA Playoffs campaign

#2 Julius Randle will need to work on his finishing around the rim

New York Knicks v Los Angeles Lakers

Julius Randle's finishing around the rim was extremely poor during the regular season last year, as the power forward finished in the 16th percentile amongst all NBA players. However, it took a serious hit in the playoff against the Hawks, shooting 2-for-7 (28.6 percent) in the non-restricted area part of the paint.

Due credit to the Atlanta Hawks for keeping Julius Randle quiet in the paint and daring him to shoot, the New York Knicks ace will have to learn to finish in contact. Being able to finish in the paint with accuracy is a hallmark of any brilliant offensive player, and Tom Thibodeau would certainly like his franchise player to inculcate it into his skillset.

#1 Playmaking

New York Knicks v Washington Wizards

Julius Randle improved his ball handling considerably last season, averaging 6 assists per game. He developed into an all-round forward, playing as the de-facto playmaker in a true point guard's absence. The Knicks were one of the best shooting teams last year, and Randle was a major reason why their shooters got open looks.

However, as was the case in the last two pointers, Randle's productivity declined in the playoffs. He averaged 4 assists per game in the postseason, and there was a direct correlation between the Knicks shooting numbers going down and his average passing.

Julius Randle will need to improve his passing further in the 2021-22 season, even with Kemba Walker's arrival. He will certainly see less of the ball compared to last season, but he can still try to bring his turnovers down, especially in the playoffs. Randle averaged 4.6 turnovers per game against the Hawks, and one can imagine how much of a threat he will be to opposition teams once he brings those numbers down.