Are we underestimating KAT?

[thedoper]

I've been a vocal critic of KAT. He caved in the playoffs and played lacklustre D all year. Now the drama with Jimmy. In all of that if you told me KAT is going to average 28 and 14 and play great D all year I'd believe you. If we get that KAT are we an improved team? It doesn't seem impossible to me in any way. I've been underestimating him. I hope he makes a fool of me for doubting him.

[worldK]

I would say yes. Towns is the most talented player on the team. He also has the talent to challenge davis on being the best big man in the game.

Defense is the key for him. If he can defend at a high level then there is no other center you would want on your team.

I would believe you if you told me towns will average 28 and 14. Make him the top option and he will give you those numbers. If kevin love can average 26 and 13 at his prime then towns can do better. Defense is the one thing holding him back atm.

[Monster]

I think this is a good thread and I have been thinking something like this lately also. It's not just those points and rebounds it's just playing more winning basketball. It's likely a natural progression that he can make. If he makes a jump which with Towns talent level and age/experience is reasonable to hope for or even expect.

Looking at advanced stats defensively he went from having the worst RPM as a center -1.41 in 2017 to being .44 last season. Playing with Butler and Taj (Dieng was one of the highest rated centers in 2017) obviously helped but if he could even make just another bit of a jump there it would be pretty significant if his game continues to grow. He doesn't have to jump to top 10 as a center or DPOY just be better on that end and do a couple other little things while doing all the other good stuff he does and...the guy is already a very good player but if he truely makes another progression you have a true top 20 or so player...that's HUGE. He turns 23 in November.

[KG4Ever]

Under a different coach, KAT would a better player. After Thibs, KAT will be a top 10 maybe top 5 player.

[Lipoli390]

I think this is a good thread and I have been thinking something like this lately also. It's not just those points and rebounds it's just playing more winning basketball. It's likely a natural progression that he can make. If he makes a jump which with Towns talent level and age/experience is reasonable to hope for or even expect.

Looking at advanced stats defensively he went from having the worst RPM as a center -1.41 in 2017 to being .44 last season. Playing with Butler and Taj (Dieng was one of the highest rated centers in 2017) obviously helped but if he could even make just another bit of a jump there it would be pretty significant if his game continues to grow. He doesn't have to jump to top 10 as a center or DPOY just be better on that end and do a couple other little things while doing all the other good stuff he does and...the guy is already a very good player but if he truely makes another progression you have a true top 20 or so player...that's HUGE. He turns 23 in November.

I agree, Monster. A few points to keep in mind about KAT. First, his is still very young with and still a few years away from reaching his prime. So he still has lots of upside on both sides of the ball. Second, lost amidst the criticism of KAT's defense is the fact that he improved significantly last season on that side of the ball as you illustrated by reference to his dramatically improved defensive RPM. In fact, his advanced defensive stats indicate mediocre, not terrible defense last season and were on par with Taj Gibson's. Third, KAT is already a great offensive player AND rebounder. So, as you noted, KAT doesn't have to be a great defender to be an elite player. He just has to be decent on that side of the ball. James Harden generally regarded as a poor defender, but he's become a perennial MVP candidate since reaching his prime based entirely on his offensive contributions. Finally, if Thibodeau ran the offense through KAT, as he should, KAT would easily put up 26-28 points per game along with 12-14 rebounds while also getting at least 3 assists and 1.5 blocks per game.

We all know how the team's performance declined last season when Butler was injured. But we should all take a step back and question how well the team would have played if Butler and the rest of the team had to play without Towns for 23 games last season. I'll suggest the result would have been at least as bad. And I have no doubt Towns will continue to improve because he's too proud and too competitive not to. If Towns takes it up yet another notch this season and Butler plays at least 75 games, the Wolves should be very good.

Running the offense more through Towns, making better use of Wiggins on the offensive end and getting more defense as well as better three-point shooting from our bench via Okogie, KBD, Tolliver and Nunnally will also be critical to the team's ability to finish in the top 4 as I think we should.

An early season run could help smooth out the chemistry issues. But a poor start will likely exacerbate those issues and this thing could get ugly by mid-season.

[crazy-canuck [enjin:18955461]]

I think everything timberwolf is a little underestimated (except jamal, he was as bad as they eye and numbers indicate)

Go though most media outlets and forums; wolves wont make the playoffs, kat isnt a top 5 center, or wiggins is the worst player in the nba.

I like the team this and some of the defensive improvements made by kat and wiggins by seasons end. The only downside for me going into this year is jimmy and his off the court stuff. However, if its just smoke abd the team is having a laugh at the expense of the media, i think we are a top 4 team in the west.

[TAFKASP]

I would never underestimate KAT's desire to give a perfect interview.

[WildWolf2813]

It's not that he's being underestimated. I think people know what he's capable of, but he's regressed defensively since the guy that was supposed to take him to the next level (Thibs) has been there and nobody can explain why. If Towns played D the way he did under Calipari, he'd be every bit the top 5 player we think he can be, but right now all we remember about Towns is how Clint Capela made him look like a G-Leaguer. That's gonna stick in people's minds until Towns does something about it.

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

KAT has to be a great defender for our team to ever be a great team. It's as simple as that. He simply hasn't been the anchor of a good defense yet and he's at the point where I'll only believe it when I see it because 4 years of data aren't kind to him on that end. He's a great offensive player and he's hungry for boards, but he has yet to elevate the play of his team which all great players are able to do. Hopefully he starts this year.

[KG4Ever]

It's not that he's being underestimated. I think people know what he's capable of, but he's regressed defensively since the guy that was supposed to take him to the next level (Thibs) has been there and nobody can explain why. If Towns played D the way he did under Calipari, he'd be every bit the top 5 player we think he can be, but right now all we remember about Towns is how Clint Capela made him look like a G-Leaguer. That's gonna stick in people's minds until Towns does something about it.

KAT looked better playing with Sam and having KG mentor him. While I do blame KAT to some extent (he's not unlike many NBA players who would rather expend their energy to get the offensive glamour stats), Thibs is a large part of the problem and I want more than anything to see Thibs gone.