**The Official Karl-Anthony Towns Thread**

InfraRen · Post #121 » by **InfraRen** » Wed Jul 1, 2015 2:28 pm

New Dave Benz/Karl-Anthony interview:

http://www.nba.com/timberwolves/karl-anthony-towns-1-on-1

Adenusi · Post #122 » by **Adenusi** » Wed Jul 1, 2015 4:50 pm

Towns putting in work.

http://theauthoritysports.com/exclusive-up-close-and-personal-with-karl-anthony-towns/

InfraRen · Post #123 » by **InfraRen** » Wed Jul 1, 2015 6:19 pm

Adenusi wrote:Towns putting in work.

http://theauthoritysports.com/exclusive-up-close-and-personal-with-karl-anthony-towns/

Great watch. The 3 point shot is so effortless for him. His little handles dribbling-drill Flip talked about was cool to see, and impressive. Got himself a nice Maserati too 8-)

Post #124 » by **Klomp** » Wed Jul 1, 2015 6:26 pm

I don't know if I'm gushing more over his handles, shooting, quickness, work ethic, character, etc.

This guy may just transform the NBA big man position

mondry · Post #125 » by **mondry** » Wed Jul 1, 2015 8:17 pm

Klomp wrote:I don't know if I'm gushing more over his handles, shooting, quickness, work ethic, character, etc.

This guy may just transform the NBA big man position

Yeah, it really is everything and I know during the draft process there was talk that he may not be elite at something but you could see his work ethic, you could see his character and drive to be great that I had no doubt he would become elite down the road and could you imagine being elite at almost everything? I know it's early but boy am I excited, we could actually be talking about having a young Tim Duncan on our team...

kmgarnett21 · Post #126 » by **kmgarnett21** » Wed Jul 1, 2015 8:24 pm

It just may be me, but when I think about a big who's elite at multiple things and very versatile, I think of KG before I think of Duncan. Yes, Duncan will likely go down as the best PF ever (PF or C, that's another discussion), but if you think KAT is going to "transform the NBA big man position" I'd say that's more in the KG mold than Duncan. KG started the trend of PFs evolving into an athletic and skilled big man.

We all know the greatness of Duncan. He's a tremendous low-post scorer with numerous moves & great fundamentals as well as a solid low-post defender, and he's developed a nice outside jumper out to 20 feet over the last several years. But it's not like he's a guy who can defend all five positions like KG could in his prime or play out on the perimeter and hit 3's in addition to get down low.

Post #127 » by **Klomp** » Fri Jul 3, 2015 5:07 am

I can't stop watching his workout videos. I think I need help.

It's amazing how much Calipari helped his development by getting him in the post. I'd almost compare it to how Flip helped Wiggins by working his post game, but Towns is now a year ahead of schedule.

I agree that Garnett would be a better comparison for him. Crazy to think that we're getting someone about 30 pounds heavier with more distance on his shot, but with basically every other trait Garnett had (defense, passing, handles, athleticism).

This comparison might sound strange, but he could be to Wiggins what Marbury was to Garnett: another young guy with potential to help the team make a big jump. The team improved from 26 wins to 40 wins between Garnett's first and second seasons (including a playoff berth) and I think the team could easily make another 14-game leap, and might even be able to double that if everything goes according to plan (maybe a lofty goal, but I'm an optimist).

Post #128 » by **Domejandro** » Fri Jul 3, 2015 5:40 am

Adenusi wrote:Towns putting in work.

http://theauthoritysports.com/exclusive-up-close-and-personal-with-karl-anthony-towns/

Being the cynic that I am, I have to say that trainer is not very good. He allowed Karl Anthony-Towns to look at the basketballs and stay in a bad stance while dribbling, did not push him very hard, and allowed for the whole thing to look slightly lethargic.

Now, I feel like a hypocrite typing that as I sit on a chair staring at a monitor, but before I injured my foot I was working with an old mentor of mine who was phenomenal at getting every last bit of effort due to the fact that he both played basketball and understood psychology; the dude was a beast, haha. He focused on defensive positioning, and made sure that you were never doing things out of stance, whether it be ball-handling, defensive slides, or sprints. Repetition and quality was more important than quantity.

Maybe I am being overly harsh given that he was likely a volunteer, but if he was a personal trainer... I was not impressed at all with what he was doing.

My obnoxious and negative impressions of that guys' coaching aside, Karl Anthony-Towns' shooting ability is absolutely wonderful! Towns is absolutely effortless in hoisting up threes that are beyond the NBA three-point line, it is amazing. That paired with his ball-handling ability is going to be awesome to watch in the next few seasons.

Post #129 » by **Klomp** » Fri Jul 3, 2015 5:45 am

Domejandro wrote:Maybe I am being overly harsh given that he was likely a volunteer, but if he was a personal trainer... I was not impressed at all with what he was doing.

It was his high school coach at St Joseph in Metuchen.

Post #130 » by **Domejandro** » Fri Jul 3, 2015 5:50 am

Klomp wrote:
Domejandro wrote:Maybe I am being overly harsh given that he was likely a volunteer, but if he was a personal trainer... I was not impressed at all with what he was doing.

It was his high school coach at St Joseph in Metuchen.

Ah, okay. That explains it a bit I guess, though I am still unimpressed due to the things Towns was able to get away with in the video, haha.

Post #131 » by **Klomp** » Mon Jul 6, 2015 1:05 am

One of the skills easily forgotten about for Towns is his outlet passing. He's almost Love-esque with some of these. Sure, he doesn't go the full length of the court, but I think that could be beneficial because it doesn't turn into an all-or-nothing proposition.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbzdCG7HK48[/youtube]
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z31S92mEqg8[/youtube]
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXGe7ykAdVs[/youtube]

urinesane · Post #132 » by **urinesane** » Mon Jul 6, 2015 8:38 pm

I can't believe how people actually argued for Okafor over Towns.

Mattya · Post #133 » by **Mattya** » Mon Jul 6, 2015 8:45 pm

urinesane wrote:I can't believe how people actually argued for Okafor over Towns.

I can't believe the nonsense some people were saying about Okafor.

Post #134 » by **Klomp** » Mon Jul 6, 2015 8:51 pm

Mattya wrote:
urinesane wrote:I can't believe how people actually argued for Okafor over Towns.

I can't believe the nonsense some people were saying about Okafor.

I think that's what the biggest thing was for me. It wasn't so much advocating him over Towns, but advocation for him, period.

urinesane · Post #135 » by **urinesane** » Mon Jul 6, 2015 8:57 pm

Mattya wrote:
urinesane wrote:I can't believe how people actually argued for Okafor over Towns.

I can't believe the nonsense some people were saying about Okafor.

The "worst" comparison I heard for Okafor's counterpart in the NBA was Al Jefferson.

The worst comparison I heard for Towns was Olowokandi.

It went both ways.

urinesane · Post #136 » by **urinesane** » Mon Jul 6, 2015 8:59 pm

Klomp wrote:
Mattya wrote:
urinesane wrote:I can't believe how people actually argued for Okafor over Towns.

I can't believe the nonsense some people were saying about Okafor.

I think that's what the biggest thing was for me. It wasn't so much advocating him over Towns, but advocation for him, period.

I never had a problem with people liking Okafor as a player, but the bulk of the discussion was in the No.1 pick thread. Which would mean in order to argue for Okafor in that thread, it would have to be over Towns at #1.

I remember someone acting like the sky would fall if Towns were the pick.

Mattya · Post #137 » by **Mattya** » Mon Jul 6, 2015 9:58 pm

urinesane wrote:
Mattya wrote:
urinesane wrote:I can't believe how people actually argued for Okafor over Towns.

I can't believe the nonsense some people were saying about Okafor.

The "worst" comparison I heard for Okafor's counterpart in the NBA was Al Jefferson.

The worst comparison I heard for Towns was Olowokandi.

It went both ways.

That was what one poster? It barely went both ways.

urinesane · Post #138 » by **urinesane** » Mon Jul 6, 2015 10:31 pm

Mattya wrote:
urinesane wrote:
Mattya wrote:
I can't believe the nonsense some people were saying about Okafor.

The "worst" comparison I heard for Okafor's counterpart in the NBA was Al Jefferson.

The worst comparison I heard for Towns was Olowokandi.

It went both ways.

That was what one poster? It barely went both ways.

I don't think it was one poster arguing for Okafor over Towns in that thread. Maybe one poster making ridiculous comparisons, but I don't really remember any Olowokandi level comparisons for Okafor.

My argument was that I can't believe people wanted Okafor over Towns. I didn't bash Okafor.

It's funny how sensitive people are.

Post #139 » by **Klomp** » Mon Jul 6, 2015 10:39 pm

Interesting, considering the comparisons we've seen here of Towns to Rasheed Wallace

[tweet]https://twitter.com/MusikFan4Life/status/618165263863795712[/tweet]

Saltine · Post #140 » by **Saltine** » Mon Jul 6, 2015 10:44 pm

Doogie posted a long video interview with KAT, and Tyus over here;
Wolves' Rookies Participate in First Practice
http://kstp.com/news/stories/s3844513.shtml