**The Official Karl-Anthony Towns Thread**

life_saver · Post #1961 » by **life_saver** » Tue Mar 15, 2022 6:32 pm

Post #1962 » by **Klomp** » Tue Mar 15, 2022 10:51 pm

Interesting point brought up by Dane last night. If Towns makes 3rd team all-NBA, he's eligible to sign the supermax THIS SUMMER. If not, it sounds like he has to wait to sign any extension. That's important for the longterm perception of the franchise by free agents because it would create another sense of security for a franchise with a history of volatility.

shrink · Post #1963 » by **shrink** » Tue Mar 22, 2022 10:32 pm

Top Five in Win Shares this year

1. Nikola Jokić • DEN 13.2
2. Giannis Antetokounmpo • MIL 11.7
3. Joel Embiid • PHI 10.3
4. Rudy Gobert • UTA 10.2
5. Karl-Anthony Towns • MIN 9.7

At virtually any other point in history, Towns would have no trouble making All-NBA. The league right now just happens to have multiple big men putting up historic stats, like Towns.

Post #1964 » by **Klomp** » Tue Mar 22, 2022 11:26 pm

shrink wrote:At virtually any other point in history, Towns would have no trouble making All-NBA. The league right now just happens to have multiple big men putting up historic stats, like Towns.

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shrink · Post #1965 » by **shrink** » Wed Mar 23, 2022 4:41 am

I listened to that podcast.

Both Zach Lowe and Kevin Arnovitz had Towns on the SECOND team, by putting Embiid and Jokic on the 1st.

shrink · Post #1966 » by **shrink** » Wed Mar 23, 2022 10:40 pm

I listened to the Dunc’d On podcast this morning, where Danny LaReoux ranked Towns In the same tier with Gobert, and Nate Duncan ranked him FIFTH, with Bam at #2. Danny took him to task for it.

I disagree with Nate’s positioning, but I will explain his point. He said that this would be based on, “Who you would want in the playoffs” and that the primary role of a center is to defend the rim. He says that is inherent in the position, otherwise your team has to put a worse player at PF to make up for the lapse. Strangely, Bam doesn’t defend the rim, but his ability to switch on defense is something Nate thought was more valuable.

Personally, I think this is garbage. If your center is incredible offensively, the combo of C-PF with Towns is going to be better overall than the C-PF with Bam. I could see him making this argument for Gobert maybe, who is incredible defensively, but I would still think Towns would be preferred by 30-of-30 playoff coaches, if they got to choose between the three

Dewey · Post #1967 » by **Dewey** » Thu Mar 24, 2022 11:31 am

shrink wrote:I listened to the Dunc’d On podcast this morning, where Danny LaReoux ranked Towns In the same tier with Gobert, and Nate Duncan ranked him FIFTH, with Bam at #2. Danny took him to task for it.

I disagree with Nate’s positioning, but I will explain his point. He said that this would be based on, “Who you would want in the playoffs” and that the primary role of a center is to defend the rim. He says that is inherent in the position, otherwise your team has to put a worse player at PF to make up for the lapse. Strangely, Bam doesn’t defend the rim, but his ability to switch on defense is something Nate thought was more valuable.

Personally, I think this is garbage. If your center is incredible offensively, the combo of C-PF with Towns is going to be better overall than the C-PF with Bam. I could see him making this argument for Gobert maybe, who is incredible defensively, but I would still think Towns would be preferred by 30-of-30 playoff coaches, if they got to choose between the three

IMO… if Towns was more a proven leader and less a whiner… he’d be thought of much more favorably

shrink · Post #1968 » by **shrink** » Fri Mar 25, 2022 3:56 am

After Towns 60 point game, he addressed his teammates on the flight home:

”I just wanted to say, and I mean this from my heart, that I wouldn’t have wanted to do this 60-point game with anyone else but y’all.

“My brothers. I appreciate you making this so special.”

But the most heartbreaking part of it all was the Timberwolves big man trying to text his mom after his massive performance, only to break down in tears shortly after:

He started scanning the hundreds of text messages he had received after the game from friends around the league and family who’d watched from afar. Then he started typing …

“I was so in the moment that I pulled my mom’s number up to text her,” Towns says.

Halfway through the text, he caught himself and started crying.

“This was a moment for us,” Towns says. “She would’ve loved it.”

winforlose · Post #1969 » by **winforlose** » Fri Mar 25, 2022 9:41 am

Saw this on hoopshype and had to share.

“Dane Moore: Karl-Anthony Towns is again listed as questionable with a right firearm contusion for Friday’s game against Dallas 11 hours ago – via Twitter DaneMooreNBA”

shrink · Post #1970 » by **shrink** » Fri Mar 25, 2022 11:18 pm

winforlose wrote:Saw this on hoopshype and had to share.

“Dane Moore: Karl-Anthony Towns is again listed as questionable with a right firearm contusion for Friday’s game against Dallas 11 hours ago – via Twitter DaneMooreNBA”

I just watched Klaw on Black Panther last night!

Post #1971 » by **Klomp** » Wed Apr 13, 2022 7:21 pm

Let's all keep a little context in mind when thinking about this young man's performance last night. Two years ago today, his mother breathed her last breath.

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minimus · Post #1972 » by **minimus** » Tue May 3, 2022 7:38 am

It is a bit early, but I hope Towns and our coaching staff will watch some PHO/Ayton videos this offseason. I remember just two years ago I read some scouting reports about Ayton and he was inconsistent player, someone even said "not a #1 pick caliber player". He has made a progress since then and Karl can learn a lot from him. How to set screens, how to operate in high post, how to square and face up (mid range game). Karl might be the best shooting big in NBA, but he must play attention to these little things. For instance, he might have the best shooting release, best looking shooting form, but one of the most inconsistent footwork after shooting.

I also can't stress enough how important for a bigman a steady presence at PG position. Whatever decision we want Gupta to make with DLo extension, we need to be sure that our starting PG can execute in offence at high level. Towns is often "emotionally drunk", but we can't afford that our starting PG goes hot and cold every damn game. We need consistency from PG position.

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winforlose · Post #1973 » by **winforlose** » Mon May 16, 2022 12:17 pm

Just saw this on hoopshype. Anyone who says KAT is soft (or any other spelling of the term,) or a disappoint, should ******** read this.

“Towns played through his injuries during the Timberwolves’ run to the Western Conference playoffs, and decided to get these treatments in the offseason with the hopes of avoiding surgery and making a full recovery by training camp. Towns, according to sources, was dealing with pain in both knees, especially his right knee, which he wore a sleeve on during the playoffs. He also had a cyst in his left ankle, a subluxated left wrist with ligament damage and an aggravated joint on the middle finger of his right, shooting hand. 18 hours ago – via Ramona Shelburne @ ESPN”

Baseline81 · Post #1974 » by **Baseline81** » Wed May 25, 2022 1:02 am

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jscott · Post #1975 » by **jscott** » Wed May 25, 2022 1:15 am

Pay the man his money.
-KGB

Post #1976 » by **Calinks** » Wed May 25, 2022 2:52 am

Well earned he had a great season. Needs to clean up the ref stuff and shoot more threes and he could be a top 10 guy next season.

life_saver · Post #1977 » by **life_saver** » Wed May 25, 2022 3:05 am

Dane makes a good point here

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Slim Tubby · Post #1978 » by **Slim Tubby** » Wed May 25, 2022 3:31 am

life_saver wrote:Dane makes a good point here

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$47M cap hit starting in 2023 is still a monster. I love KAT but he better earn it. We’ll be very handicapped regardless of the Cap increase. Would we have been better off if he didn’t make 3rd team (he absolutely deserved it)?

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shrink · Post #1979 » by **shrink** » Wed May 25, 2022 4:12 am

As great as KAT is, it’s exciting how much better he can still grow.

We often talk about how Ant has the potential to be a top 5 player. The truth is, KAT might have an even greater chance, since, right now, he has parts of his game that are already top 5.

Post #1980 » by **Calinks** » Wed May 25, 2022 4:18 am

Slim Tubby wrote:
life_saver wrote:Dane makes a good point here

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$47M cap hit starting in 2023 is still a monster. I love KAT but he better earn it. We’ll be very handicapped regardless of the Cap increase. Would we have been better off if he didn’t make 3rd team (he absolutely deserved it)?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I think it's good he made it. It gives us the ability to lock him up long term. I know a lot of people are down on KAT but I still believe he is a great compliment to Ant and Vice Versa. Having them locked up is key to making this team very good, you see how much damage a good great big and a great guard/wing can do together. Jokic.Murray, Embiid/Butler, Gobert/Mitchel. Towns still absolutely has potential to play better playoff basketball and if we can get him and Ant humming I don't know any team will be able to stop it.

Especially when they can't destroy us with the double teams like they did this season (after hopefully some Connely moves and KAT working on his game in doubles). If two years from now we don't think KAT is a good fit anymore, he should be pretty easy to move still, there will be a lot of teams who want a top 5 center in his prime playing for them.