Randle handles leadership role, gives Smith boost

At 24 years old, Julius Randle is considered one of the Knicks’ veterans and he’s not taking his responsibility as a leader lightly. The first-year Knicks forward gave Dennis Smith Jr. a pep talk after Smith struggled in his first preseason game.

“He told me it took two games to really find his rhythm and the third game he was comfortable,” Smith said. “I’m looking forward to the same thing happening to me.

“It definitely helped with my confidence. He’s a guy that I respect. I see him come in and put his work in every day. Everybody goes through it. The key is just staying aggressive, like he did and I’m doing with myself.”

After missing the f irst two preseason games with a strained lower back, Smith struggled against the Hawks. On Friday, he didn’t shoot well against the Pelicans, making 2 of 12 shots to finish with nine points, but his overall game was better, notching six assists, nine rebounds and two steals.

“It’s just timing, get my legs and my rhythm. That’s all it is,” he said. “Even the f irst game, I couldn’t really get a rhythm. I had two early fouls. There was no rhythm in that. Last game, played 31 minutes and my wind is there.” Smith is battling Elfrid Payton and Frank Ntilikina to be the starting point guard.

➤ Not only did coach David Fizdale not reveal his starting point guard, he wouldn’t even give hints on his starting lineup.

“We’re going to hold off until the day of,” he said.

It would seem likely RJ Barrett, Marcus Morris and Randle are locks, but the Knicks coach refused to confirm such a notion.

“Nope, I’m not assuming any of that,” Fizdale said.

➤ Fizdale is starting to put more set plays into the offense, but his bigger focus is ball movement. He felt there was too much isolation and one-on-one play during the preseason.

“That’s where they got to fight the urge to stop the ball,” Fizdale said. “That’s what we did in practice today. We just hammered home, ‘Move it, move it, move it.’ You got a 1 ¹/2-second hold, then you got to move it.

“There’s certain guys against certain matchups, they should hold it and take advantage of it, but overall I want that thing moving as much as possible.”