Game 5: Spurs at Wolves, 7 pm

[winforlose]

Towns' ability to dribble penetrate in the half-court against a wing/mobile PF is a very big deal to this team I believe.
He did a pretty good job at it in this game and it's something I'm watching closely.
I'm worried about it because if he can't, it'll really limit his game and therefore the team. Hoping to see him continuing to effectively attack the rim in the half-court.

KAT has proven year after year that one man cannot guard him. That is why he was able to drop so many dimes last night. If he can score at all 3 levels (something else you saw last night,) that forces so much defensive attention that everyone else gets opportunities. Even if he couldn’t drive on say PG13 or Giannias, he could always pull up and nail the midrange, or step back and drain the triple. Moreover, 4/5 PNR and PNP is a weapon we know Finch wants use more, and KAT has the passing ability to pay Rudy off if necessary. The only questions are on defense, and I don’t think they are as much about KAT as one would expect. I mean honestly, in 5 games how many defensive fouls does he even have?

Mackey and Theige talked about it today....opposing coaches still fear Towns. He's still gotta be the first or second name on the scouting report every night. If he could just bottle that up and let his game do the talking would be huge. He no longer has to be the voice for the locker room.

More importantly he doesn’t need to be the lead scorer. That is both KAT’s best and worst quality. I love that he is a willing passer and playmaker. I love that he legitimately wants Rudy and Ant, and everyone else to get their’s. But, he also is sometimes to willing to not to get his. Every team needs to find balance in their scoring, and we are no different. But, Ant, KAT, Rudy, Dlo, MCD, and Nowell can drop 20+ on any given night. Prince and Naz are less likely to, but we have seen it. When you have that much artillery, it can be hard to know who should be shooting, and when. My answer is always move the ball and ALWAYS feed the hot hand.

[D1SGRUNTL3D]

Towns' ability to dribble penetrate in the half-court against a wing/mobile PF is a very big deal to this team I believe.
He did a pretty good job at it in this game and it's something I'm watching closely.
I'm worried about it because if he can't, it'll really limit his game and therefore the team. Hoping to see him continuing to effectively attack the rim in the half-court.

Kat had one drive I think in the 4th that he did a jump stop, and instead of forcing it up for a pretty hard shot, he simply dished it to ant for an easy wide open lay up.

That was when ant scored like 6-8 4th qtr lay ups

I’d like to see that more

[KGdaBom]

Towns' ability to dribble penetrate in the half-court against a wing/mobile PF is a very big deal to this team I believe.
He did a pretty good job at it in this game and it's something I'm watching closely.
I'm worried about it because if he can't, it'll really limit his game and therefore the team. Hoping to see him continuing to effectively attack the rim in the half-court.

Kat had one drive I think in the 4th that he did a jump stop, and instead of forcing it up for a pretty hard shot, he simply dished it to ant for an easy wide open lay up.

That was when ant scored like 6-8 4th qtr lay ups

I’d like to see that more

A team with our offensive versatility and weapons should be almost impossible to stop. I expect us to lead the NBA in points per possession this year.

[winforlose]

Towns' ability to dribble penetrate in the half-court against a wing/mobile PF is a very big deal to this team I believe.
He did a pretty good job at it in this game and it's something I'm watching closely.
I'm worried about it because if he can't, it'll really limit his game and therefore the team. Hoping to see him continuing to effectively attack the rim in the half-court.

Kat had one drive I think in the 4th that he did a jump stop, and instead of forcing it up for a pretty hard shot, he simply dished it to ant for an easy wide open lay up.

That was when ant scored like 6-8 4th qtr lay ups

I’d like to see that more

A team with our offensive versatility and weapons should be almost impossible to stop. I expect us to lead the NBA in points per possession this year.

If we box out and defend the corners watch out.

[Grubie024]

Towns' ability to dribble penetrate in the half-court against a wing/mobile PF is a very big deal to this team I believe.
He did a pretty good job at it in this game and it's something I'm watching closely.
I'm worried about it because if he can't, it'll really limit his game and therefore the team. Hoping to see him continuing to effectively attack the rim in the half-court.

Kat had one drive I think in the 4th that he did a jump stop, and instead of forcing it up for a pretty hard shot, he simply dished it to ant for an easy wide open lay up.

That was when ant scored like 6-8 4th qtr lay ups

I’d like to see that more

Love it. And I would say what you described is part of "effectively attacking the rim". Last year, how many times did he just bulldoze his way in and draw an offensive foul?
I disagree with the notion that not one man can guard him as WinforLose said. Rounding out this part of his game, particularly against more mobile defenders... Then he's impressing even his harshest critics i'd think.

[winforlose]

Towns' ability to dribble penetrate in the half-court against a wing/mobile PF is a very big deal to this team I believe.
He did a pretty good job at it in this game and it's something I'm watching closely.
I'm worried about it because if he can't, it'll really limit his game and therefore the team. Hoping to see him continuing to effectively attack the rim in the half-court.

Kat had one drive I think in the 4th that he did a jump stop, and instead of forcing it up for a pretty hard shot, he simply dished it to ant for an easy wide open lay up.

That was when ant scored like 6-8 4th qtr lay ups

I’d like to see that more

Love it. And I would say what you described is part of "effectively attacking the rim". Last year, how many times did he just bulldoze his way in and draw an offensive foul?
I disagree with the notion that not one man can guard him as WinforLose said. Rounding out this part of his game, particularly against more mobile defenders... Then he's impressing even his harshest critics i'd think.

Go back and look at how often he draws doubles. His biggest weakness was passing out of the double. This year it is one of his strengths. His new weaknesses are knowing when to shoot and kicking out on 3s.