**The Official Karl-Anthony Towns Thread: Part Two**

[TimberKat]

I just realized. The two times we had the number 1 pick. We chose correctly, I don't know what to do if we got stuck with Okafor and Wiseman

Was the choice between Ant and Wiseman? I always thought people here were between Ant and Ball?

I remember it being a three way choice, and all three had posters from our board that supported each one.

And supposedly Flip really liked Okafor early, but his staff (and a strong workout by Towns) convinced him to go with KAT.

We got lucky out in the Towns draft. The #2 was DLo, Okafor #3. Porzingis at #4 actually made kids cried. You have to go all the way down to #13 to find Booker. There is no way anyone in the top 4 would take Booker. Just the same as no one would pass up the caged lion for Klay.

[minimus]

Yeah! Keep being physical, and this MIN will be second coming of DET 2004!

[CometGM]

I think this team is gonna be scary defensively. KAT will have more leniency to chase down blocks (or hold his ground to allow Gobert to chase). More importantly I think having a defensive player like Gobert will motivate him to be better defensively. He's shown in the past he can be locked in defensively and the team has actually been really good when he's locked in. The issue has been that he reverts back. A constant defensive presence like Gobert could unlock a more consistent defensive KAT. I feel this will be a top 3 defensive team and KAT's best year defensively.

From your Keyboard to God's eyes.

This prediction was a year early but looks like God decided it's time.

[KGdaBom]

I think this team is gonna be scary defensively. KAT will have more leniency to chase down blocks (or hold his ground to allow Gobert to chase). More importantly I think having a defensive player like Gobert will motivate him to be better defensively. He's shown in the past he can be locked in defensively and the team has actually been really good when he's locked in. The issue has been that he reverts back. A constant defensive presence like Gobert could unlock a more consistent defensive KAT. I feel this will be a top 3 defensive team and KAT's best year defensively.

From your Keyboard to God's eyes.

This prediction was a year early but looks like God decided it's time.

It's early, but so far so good.

[minimus]

I remember this bravada acting. Towns got two game suspension, but showed some "fake toughness"...



As much as I love Pat Beverley who wants Towns to choke Draymond back, I am really glad that Karl did not mess this up. I think that Butler soap drama created in NBA fanbase some form of Towns gaslighting. Yes, he is goofy, good spoken guy, but the narrative was pushing him to show this fake toughness...

I really hope he has found this zen after years of being in the center of noisy, winless environment.

[shrink]

[minimus]

I wonder if Towns should shoot more mid range shots. Right now he is either driving or shooting threes. Plus a few postups. Maybe finch can design more actions where Karl gets the ball around elbows where he can shoot over smaller opponents. Something like Jokic used to do a lot in his early career

[Slim Tubby]

I wonder if Towns should shoot more mid range shots. Right now he is either driving or shooting threes. Plus a few postups. Maybe finch can design more actions where Karl gets the ball around elbows where he can shoot over smaller opponents. Something like Jokic used to do a lot in his early career

KAT's drives to the lane are just as likely to result in a turnover or injury as they are a bucket or free throws. If he took 10-12 3-point shots from the top of the key every game, I wouldn't complain as a fan.

[shrink]

KAT's drives to the lane are just as likely to result in a turnover or injury as they are a bucket or free throws. If he took 10-12 3-point shots from the top of the key every game, I wouldn't complain as a fan.

I agree he should shoot more, particularly three’s. He’s up to 39.8% from 3P after a bad start, but he needs to put up more than 4.9 per game.

But he can’t take out driving. He’s one of three players that draws fouls, and he’s shooting 91.9% FT. Plus every foul we draw on a big makes it easier for Naz and all our bigs by draining opponents big depth. KAT just needs to be better driving, and especially watch the hooking.

[minimus]

I wonder if Towns should shoot more mid range shots. Right now he is either driving or shooting threes. Plus a few postups. Maybe finch can design more actions where Karl gets the ball around elbows where he can shoot over smaller opponents. Something like Jokic used to do a lot in his early career

KAT's drives to the lane are just as likely to result in a turnover or injury as they are a bucket or free throws. If he took 10-12 3-point shots from the top of the key every game, I wouldn't complain as a fan.

According to bbref Towns takes twice more shots from 10-16ft than last year, while making 46% of them, he also makes 54% of long twos from 16ft to 3pt line. But these are still only 14% of his shots. I noticed that he shots mid range quicker than 3pt shots. IMO his midrange game is still area of improvement for our team, as well as his progress in shooting floaters and short jumpers. There is no reason why Jokic could develop his short range game and 3pt shooting, and Towns cant. Sometimes it becomes very predictable when Towns only drives and shoots threes.

[minimus]

Read on Twitter

Yeah, dont need to drive every time.

[minimus]

From Lowe last article:

He is hitting a career-best 54% from floater range, per Cleaning The Glass.

This is something I dreamed for: Towns expanding his arsenal to become efficient short range shooter.

https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/insider/story/_/id/39057886/lowe-lakers-pels-post-ad-randle-new-snappiness-giannis-dominant

[Calinks]

Karl-Anthony Towns has a chance to be the 2022 NBA champion Andrew Wiggins. What do I mean by that? He has a chance to be the lynchpin guy to elevate his team to a title. The guy that nobody believed would do it but his team needed him to do it for them to win.

It's going to take some superhuman efforts to win a title and make that leap but if Towns can find a way to a big-time step up in the post-seaosn, he can be that guy. Rudy is playing at an all-time level. We have seen Edwards take his game to extreme heights in the playoffs. Towns has yet to have a consistently great showing.

If he can pull a Wiggins, and just turn everything up to a new level, In particular, become an elite shot-maker, this team could be unstoppable.

Imagine a version of Karl-Anthony Towns that is putting up 40 point games, having 7/12 nights from three, absolutely flaming opposing teams with daggers and big shots, not getting into massive foul trouble or pouting, playing under control, not turning the ball over, playing solid defense.

A Towns that is stepping up in big moments while the defense is trying to shut Edwards down.

Just like Wiggins, it would completely change the narrative on Towns as a player, all of the talk about soft or being empty stats, etc would go out the window. His trade value would go through the roofs, he would be redeemed.

He is in that position right now. A hell of a story that he can write and if this team does manage to bring home a championship, all of these guys, including towns, are getting statues here.

[winforlose]

KAT is the guy who scores 20-25 and no one notices. They are too busy looking at the underdog player like TBJ or Shake going off. Or they are busy looking at Ant’s rise or Rudy’s defensive powers. KAT is arguably the best shooting big ever to play the game. He doesn’t get the whistles or the respect he deserves.

[FrenchMinnyFan]

KAT is the guy who scores 20-25 and no one notices. They are too busy looking at the underdog player like TBJ or Shake going off. Or they are busy looking at Ant’s rise or Rudy’s defensive powers. KAT is arguably the best shooting big ever to play the game. He doesn’t get the whistles or the respect he deserves.

Totally agree with that. We all, me included, sometimes excited by ANT who is so gifted and talented. But overall KAT, Rudy and to a lesser degree Mike are as much important.

[TimberKat]

Karl-Anthony Towns has a chance to be the 2022 NBA champion Andrew Wiggins. What do I mean by that? He has a chance to be the lynchpin guy to elevate his team to a title. The guy that nobody believed would do it but his team needed him to do it for them to win.
...

Imagine a version of Karl-Anthony Towns that is putting up 40 point games, having 7/12 nights from three, absolutely flaming opposing teams with daggers and big shots, not getting into massive foul trouble or pouting, playing under control, not turning the ball over, playing solid defense.

A Towns that is stepping up in big moments while the defense is trying to shut Edwards down.
...

He is in that position right now. A hell of a story that he can write and if this team does manage to bring home a championship, all of these guys, including towns, are getting statues here.

Speak for yourself, I been saying all along he will have a great comback All NBA year after the injury
I do agree he needs to take it up a level (but remain calm) in the playoffs. I really think he will with Gobert taking the defensive beating away from him and his re-discovery of the mid-range game.

[TimberKat]

KAT is the guy who scores 20-25 and no one notices. They are too busy looking at the underdog player like TBJ or Shake going off. Or they are busy looking at Ant’s rise or Rudy’s defensive powers. KAT is arguably the best shooting big ever to play the game. He doesn’t get the whistles or the respect he deserves.

Totally agree with that. We all, me included, sometimes excited by ANT who is so gifted and talented. But overall KAT, Rudy and to a lesser degree Mike are as much important.

Which unfortunately leads me to think JMcD + KA's salary is the only viable team upgrade that we can make. Really like to keep Naz if all possible because his contract is very reasonable, give us an edge with bigs, and he wants to be here. Maybe we can get DeRozan or Jones in a buy-out situation.

[FrenchMinnyFan]

KAT is the guy who scores 20-25 and no one notices. They are too busy looking at the underdog player like TBJ or Shake going off. Or they are busy looking at Ant’s rise or Rudy’s defensive powers. KAT is arguably the best shooting big ever to play the game. He doesn’t get the whistles or the respect he deserves.

Totally agree with that. We all, me included, sometimes excited by ANT who is so gifted and talented. But overall KAT, Rudy and to a lesser degree Mike are as much important.

Which unfortunately leads me to think JMcD + KA's salary is the only viable team upgrade that we can make. Really like to keep Naz if all possible because his contract is very reasonable, give us an edge with bigs, and he wants to be here. Maybe we can get DeRozan or Jones in a buy-out situation.

Yes off season will be tricky. We don't have much option unless we win the title this year then we can relax! Front office will have to make some not easy choices. JMCD + KA may be a good option if both of them don't step up. I will feel sad for Slomo because i like what he bring in terms of passing and defense. But a player who can't shoot is not an option for us.

[shrink]

Since Towns is shooting 51% and 43% 3P, we want him to take more shots. But these percentages are based on the shots he’s comfortable taking, and we wouldn’t expect those percentages to remain as high with harder attempts.

So let me ask you BB players. I know that some games it feels like you can make any shot, and others you just know you’re going to miss. When you feel you’re going to miss, is the correct play to pass? Or is it to shoot anyway, and learn to get comfortable?

[winforlose]

Since Towns is shooting 51% and 43% 3P, we want him to take more shots. But these percentages are based on the shots he’s comfortable taking, and we wouldn’t expect those percentages to remain as high with harder attempts.

So let me ask you BB players. I know that some games it feels like you can make any shot, and others you just know you’re going to miss. When you feel you’re going to miss, is the correct play to pass? Or is it to shoot anyway, and learn to get comfortable?

When I was 16 I was towering over the other guys I played with but never had good conditioning. So I decided to practice shooting 3s for about 2-3 hours a day. By the time I was 17 I was the best 3 point shooter in our group. I would crash the boards when needed or do the occasional post up (I’m 6’4,) but usually I would camp out behind the line. The advantage was I had a shorter distance to fall back on defense. There were definitely days were my shot was off and I would move the ball more. That said, shooters don’t always know if they are having a bad day or a bad stretch, and the only way to really know is to take a bunch (usually in between games,) and see. At the NBA level I definitely suspect that rhythm and shot mechanics are way more important. For example Naz grabbing the seems. That is why having guys pass to the shot pocket makes it easier to stay in rhythm.