With every spectacular outing from Obi Toppin, with every new profession excessive in factors or explosion of the gang into ‘Obi’ chants, the query will get louder:
Can this occur with Julius Randle?
Via two seasons, it hasn’t. Coach Tom Thibodeau, who prioritizes tall facilities for rim safety, has seen Toppin and Randle as an excessive amount of of a defensive legal responsibility as a frontcourt tandem. And with Randle averaging about 36 minutes since final season, Toppin has often occupied the bench.
However the teammates have mentioned their potential as a duo.
“Me and Jules truly talked about it, we positively really feel in in the present day’s sport that’s a giant factor, simply because a number of groups are enjoying small, lot of groups wish to play quick, shoot threes, run the ground and simply get out in transition,” Toppin stated. “And I really feel like when me and Jules are on the court docket, we’re positively enjoying much more quicker. Both me or Jules might be within the paint or we will display and roll. There are such a lot of totally different issues we will do after we’re on the court docket. We’ve positively talked about it and hopefully we’re each again right here subsequent yr and we will see that stuff.”
Thibodeau wasn’t as enthusiastic, once more expressing hesitancy about enjoying smallball after Randle returns subsequent season.
“I like having a part of with the ability to downsize,” the coach stated. “However the factor is, we lose our protection, and so it’s gonna be onerous as a result of when you try this, you’re mainly committing to outscoring any individual.”
Whether or not or not the double energy ahead lineup turns into a staple, it will likely be troublesome to justify enjoying Toppin so sparingly in 12 months 3. He has surged to finish this season whereas Randle rests, with Friday’s 114-92 victory over the Wizards as the most recent instance of the 24-year-old’s improved sport and confidence.
He dropped a career-high 35 factors off six 3-pointers and 14-of-22 capturing general, elevating his final 10-game averages to 16.8 factors on 57% capturing.
Final season, Toppin struggled to hit the rim on 3-pointers. Now he’s knocking them down with regularity.
“Earlier than, I used to be considering, ‘Don’t mess up,’” Toppin stated. “Now I’m considering, ‘Shoot first,’ after which go bottom, dribble-handoff with guys and simply enjoying with a distinct kind of confidence now.”
Nonetheless, Toppin can’t assist however to fret about getting pulled when he makes a mistake. It occurred often when Randle was accessible, when Thibodeau had a fast hook for Toppin.
“I nonetheless have a look at the bench, I’m not going to lie,” Toppin stated.
Currently, nonetheless, the subs aren’t coming. If Randle isn’t traded and returns subsequent season, Toppin’s enchancment will apply extra stress to get him on the court docket. And even Thibodeau appears extra offered than ever.
“Everybody loves Obi,” the coach stated. “We had been all frightened when he obtained sick that he was going to get us all sick as a result of no one offers out extra (hand slaps) than Obi. Daily, the factor that you just love about him is he walks within the gymnasium and he’s obtained power. He walks onto the bus; he’s obtained power. Your crew can feed off that. He jogs my memory, in some methods, not in the best way they play, however in the best way they bounce of their perspective is Taj (Gibson). That was a younger Taj. In the course of winter, he’ll come within the gymnasium and that’s what you’d really feel from Obi when he walks within the constructing. You’re like, ‘OK, Obi’s right here.’ You're feeling it.”
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