Rookie Discussion Thread

[Marcus]

One thing I'm impressed with DLO and it's something I didn't expect, is that he's been much better in getting to the rim. That was my biggest critic in his game before.

He's figured out how to use his body, patience, and hesitation. Keeping defenders on his hip and waiting for the help to rotate back. I think his vision is garnering respect and that's helping him as well.

Seems to only have needed time to figure the game out at this level. Same thing happened in college and the same thing happened at Verde in HS. Biggest thing is his confidence never wavered.

[JellosJigglin]

One thing I'm impressed with DLO and it's something I didn't expect, is that he's been much better in getting to the rim. That was my biggest critic in his game before.

There's a difference between being unable to get inside, and not even attempting it. He was being passive because he was overthinking it. He's just now starting to show the things he did in college, and why the Lakers drafted him. His game is a good fit in the current NBA. Unfortunately Byron Scott is not.

[N3LL]

One thing I'm impressed with DLO and it's something I didn't expect, is that he's been much better in getting to the rim. That was my biggest critic in his game before.

There's a difference between being unable to get inside, and not even attempting it. He was being passive because he was overthinking it. He's just now starting to show the things he did in college, and why the Lakers drafted him. His game is a good fit in the current NBA. Unfortunately Byron Scott is not.

Byron Scott folds his arms and disagrees with you and tells you to "man up" lol

[Westbreezy]

One thing I'm impressed with DLO and it's something I didn't expect, is that he's been much better in getting to the rim. That was my biggest critic in his game before.

He's figured out how to use his body, patience, and hesitation. Keeping defenders on his hip and waiting for the help to rotate back. I think his vision is garnering respect and that's helping him as well.

Seems to only have needed time to figure the game out at this level. Same thing happened in college and the same thing happened at Verde in HS. Biggest thing is his confidence never wavered.

Another thing is that his 3 point shot is really translating. In the summer league and preseason he didn't have NBA 3 point range. I think once he got his legs under him he started steadily making more and more. In addition, he's getting to the rim now and he's started to draw fouls too (month by month FT attempts: 1, 1.1, 1.6, 2.1, 4.0)

[Slava]

Yeah his draw rate was the most concerning aspect of his game to me, even Kevin Pelton commented on that and now that it steadily improving, I'm a happier fan.

[AllanH20]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDaPfQ28QgE[/youtube]

He's averaging over 15ppg in 25 games in January/February. He's starting to work in the post as well.

18 / 6 / 17 / 22 / 18 in his last five on good shoot %s.

[TheHartBreakKid]

One thing I'm impressed with DLO and it's something I didn't expect, is that he's been much better in getting to the rim. That was my biggest critic in his game before.

Definitely. As Slava said, this was probably the biggest concern for Laker fans as well. We expected him to be able to the get to the rim due to being crafty, but something like being crafty doesn't always translate in the big leagues, while something like elite athleticism almost always does. The kid is crazy smart though....the way he keeps defenders on his hip, keeps his dribble alive, and finds space is definitely special for someone his age.

[Goudelock]

http://espn.go.com/espn/story/_/page/instantawesome-PorzingisProm-160223/fan-asks-kristaps-porzingis-go-senior-prom

Gotta give the girl props for trying.

[Merc_Porto]

Towns vs NO

30pts (13-20)
15reb
4ast
2stl
1blk

[Klomp]

Towns vs NO

30pts (13-20)
15reb
4ast
2stl
1blk

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMlsJEHCAWI[/youtube]

[GimmeDat]

Portis 10 and 16 tonight.

[treefi]

Maybe Durant should go to the Wolves?

[wablty]

Maybe Durant should go to the Wolves?

It'd be a nice change of pace from outright ring chasing. More talent chasing. There's an argument for it (extend your window up to a decade), but it's extremely unlikely. I assume he's trying to win now, not 2 or 3 years from now.

[LakersSquad]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDaPfQ28QgE[/youtube]

He's averaging over 15ppg in 25 games in January/February. He's starting to work in the post as well.

18 / 6 / 17 / 22 / 18 in his last five on good shoot %s.

I love this guy he reminds me of AK47 but he'll be better

[Merc_Porto]

[DayofMourning]

http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/pcm_finder.cgi?request=1&sum=1&y1=2016&p1=townska01&y2=1998&p2=duncati01&p3=&p4=&p5=&p6=#per_minute::none

Very impressive rookie season for Towns so far. In 30 minutes a game as well.

Here's how he compares to Tim Duncan in his rookie year. Striking similarities. The biggest gaps are in 3 point shooting, as Duncan wasn't even an option from there, and in defensive rating (Duncan played with Admiral).

[Klomp]

http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/pcm_finder.cgi?request=1&sum=1&y1=2016&p1=townska01&y2=1998&p2=duncati01&p3=&p4=&p5=&p6=#per_minute::none

Very impressive rookie season for Towns so far. In 30 minutes a game as well.

Here's how he compares to Tim Duncan in his rookie year. Striking similarities. The biggest gaps are in 3 point shooting, as Duncan wasn't even an option from there, and in defensive rating (Duncan played with Admiral).

Crazy how similar those per36 numbers are.

His minutes are going up, too. Last sixteen games since Garnett went down, he's averaged 22/12 in 35 mpg. That includes 7 25+ pt games, 3 30+ pt games, 4 15+ reb games.

If he keeps that pace for the final 23 games, he'll end the season with averages of 18.8/10.7 in 31.9 mpg

[Klomp]

First rookie with 30/15 since Blake Griffin and youngest player to put up those numbers in a game since LeBron.

Speaking of LeBron....

[tweet]https://twitter.com/si_nba/status/703761791403302917[/tweet]

[DayofMourning]

http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/pcm_finder.cgi?request=1&sum=1&y1=2016&p1=townska01&y2=1998&p2=duncati01&p3=&p4=&p5=&p6=#per_minute::none

Very impressive rookie season for Towns so far. In 30 minutes a game as well.

Here's how he compares to Tim Duncan in his rookie year. Striking similarities. The biggest gaps are in 3 point shooting, as Duncan wasn't even an option from there, and in defensive rating (Duncan played with Admiral).

Crazy how similar those per36 numbers are.

His minutes are going up, too. Last sixteen games since Garnett went down, he's averaged 22/12 in 35 mpg. That includes 7 25+ pt games, 3 30+ pt games, 4 15+ reb games.

If he keeps that pace for the final 23 games, he'll end the season with averages of 18.8/10.7 in 31.9 mpg

That's the first thing I noticed. My pre-draft NBA comparison for him was Tim Duncan, because of their skillset and ability to be a factor on both sides of the ball.

He's doing better than I thought he would though. His production in 30 minutes a game is high level.

Very impressed so far, and glad to have another big man producing in the NBA.

[Klomp]

Karl-Anthony Towns recorded 30/15 last night in his 59th career game.

Kevin Garnett didn't record 30/15 until his 287th game (Game 1, 1999)