KAT

[thedoper]

KAT has never expressed that he is a bad defender, in fact in interviews in past years he would imply he was the only one on the team defending. KAT had all the tools to be a great defensive center. Instead we had to go out and get the best defensive center of this generation of players to make up for his deficiencies and build this culture. Yes KAT is and can contribute to winning, but his inability to recognize and work on his deficiencies is what preventing him from being great and not “really good” imo. Really good is working for us now, but Im not sure its worth 60mil per moving forward.

[Monster]

KAT has never expressed that he is a bad defender, in fact in interviews in past years he would imply he was the only one on the team defending. KAT had all the tools to be a great defensive center. Instead we had to go out and get the best defensive center of this generation of players to make up for his deficiencies and build this culture. Yes KAT is and can contribute to winning, but his inability to recognize and work on his deficiencies is what preventing him from being great and not “really good” imo. Really good is working for us now, but Im not sure its worth 60mil per moving forward.

When was the last season Towns was a bad defender?

[thedoper]

KAT has never expressed that he is a bad defender, in fact in interviews in past years he would imply he was the only one on the team defending. KAT had all the tools to be a great defensive center. Instead we had to go out and get the best defensive center of this generation of players to make up for his deficiencies and build this culture. Yes KAT is and can contribute to winning, but his inability to recognize and work on his deficiencies is what preventing him from being great and not “really good” imo. Really good is working for us now, but Im not sure its worth 60mil per moving forward.

When was the last season Towns was a bad defender?

Memphis playoff series.

[Wolvesfan21]

KAT has never expressed that he is a bad defender, in fact in interviews in past years he would imply he was the only one on the team defending. KAT had all the tools to be a great defensive center. Instead we had to go out and get the best defensive center of this generation of players to make up for his deficiencies and build this culture. Yes KAT is and can contribute to winning, but his inability to recognize and work on his deficiencies is what preventing him from being great and not “really good” imo. Really good is working for us now, but Im not sure its worth 60mil per moving forward.

When was the last season Towns was a bad defender?

KAT repeatedly led the NBA in fouls (or close to it) which takes him off the floor and he can't play offense AND it was limiting his ability to defend after picking up 3-4-5 fouls.

If KAT was a good defender and didn't foul as much we'd for sure never have gone out to get Rudy who is the best iin the NBA at contesting and not fouling. KAT simply was continually attacked on defense and why wouldn't teams if they could get him in foul trouble and take him out of the game. That was the problem with KAT as the starting 5. Now we can hide him more and protect him more from foul trouble. KAT and the rest of the perimeter guys can play locked up on the 3 line and if they go by so what, Rudy is usually in position to stop it!

To me I thought the Rudy trade was superb because of it. You get the best from both eventually (now that Rudy is full strength and the team has gelled). KAT can play minor minutes at the 5 but still mostly stay on the floor too and out of foul trouble which only helps him on both ends.

[FNG]

I have not been a fan of KAT's defense throughout his career, but let's not forget that he came into the draft with the reputation of an elite rim protector and defender. While he has overachieved as a pro offensively based on his college performance, he has underachieved on defense. Until this year, that is. My eye test tells me his defense both inside and on the perimeter has been stellar. And although defensive statistics are certainly flawed, defended FG% is one stat that is mostly objective...and KAT's 42.1 is tied with Chet Holmgren for 7th best in the league, right behind DPOY candidate Rudy Gobert! I have been most impressed with KAT's quickness in closing out on 3-point shooters (and Rudy also for that matter)...it's not easy to get an open look an a 3-pointer when a 7 footer is charging at you with his hands up. KAT's and Rudy's close outs have a lot to do with the Wolves holding opponents to 33.6% 3-point shooting.

[AbeVigodaLive]

KAT has never expressed that he is a bad defender, in fact in interviews in past years he would imply he was the only one on the team defending. KAT had all the tools to be a great defensive center. Instead we had to go out and get the best defensive center of this generation of players to make up for his deficiencies and build this culture. Yes KAT is and can contribute to winning, but his inability to recognize and work on his deficiencies is what preventing him from being great and not “really good” imo. Really good is working for us now, but Im not sure its worth 60mil per moving forward.

When was the last season Towns was a bad defender?

Memphis playoff series.

I actually thought he was pretty decent on defense that series.

[Q-is-here]

We have multiple seasons of data/observation on KAT now defensively and here is what I think we've learned:

1. He most certainly can't be a defensive anchor in the traditional sense. Whenever he's been utilized as a full time Center in drop coverage he's been absolutely murdered in the pick and roll. He just never developed the technique or feel on how to guard that action.

2. He can be a solid defensive Center when utilized in a more active sense such as the high wall, where he hedges hard and they put two on the ball in high pick and roll. This is what we saw two seasons ago and the team was #13 in defensive rating - not great, but slightly above average overall. Of course it also helped that we had Vando, Jaden, and Patrick Beverley.

3. Now that he's playing PF with a legit defensive anchor at Center, his mobility has proven to be good enough to be part of an elite defense. I don't quite buy that he is suddenly this amazing defensive player, but he obviously is doing his part in this scheme.

4. Having said all of that, I do agree that when he does play Center and Rudy sits, he has improved in his ability to wall up and not bite and be as jumpy as compared to earlier in his career. I've seen a lot of missed attempts where he's stayed grounded and just made himself big near the rim. May be he's put on some man strength over the past few years, but I feel he is at least an average defensive Center at this point and definitely an average to above average defensive PF.

I think the biggest area he hurts us on both sides of the court are his out-of-control drives that result in a missed shot or turnover and him tumbling along the baseline out-of-bounds area. That's just a killer because it not only is an empty possession, but usually ends up in an open look for our opponent on the other end.

[Carlos Danger]

We have multiple seasons of data/observation on KAT now defensively and here is what I think we've learned:

1. He most certainly can't be a defensive anchor in the traditional sense. Whenever he's been utilized as a full time Center in drop coverage he's been absolutely murdered in the pick and roll. He just never developed the technique or feel on how to guard that action.

2. He can be a solid defensive Center when utilized in a more active sense such as the high wall, where he hedges hard and they put two on the ball in high pick and roll. This is what we saw two seasons ago and the team was #13 in defensive rating - not great, but slightly above average overall. Of course it also helped that we had Vando, Jaden, and Patrick Beverley.

3. Now that he's playing PF with a legit defensive anchor at Center, his mobility has proven to be good enough to be part of an elite defense. I don't quite buy that he is suddenly this amazing defensive player, but he obviously is doing his part in this scheme.

4. Having said all of that, I do agree that when he does play Center and Rudy sits, he has improved in his ability to wall up and not bite and be as jumpy as compared to earlier in his career. I've seen a lot of missed attempts where he's stayed grounded and just made himself big near the rim. May be he's put on some man strength over the past few years, but I feel he is at least an average defensive Center at this point and definitely an average to above average defensive PF.

I think the biggest area he hurts us on both sides of the court are his out-of-control drives that result in a missed shot or turnover and him tumbling along the baseline out-of-bounds area. That's just a killer because it not only is an empty possession, but usually ends up in an open look for our opponent on the other end.

Facts!

[Leado01]

Is there a player that you can name in the league that gets fouled, blatantly, especially outside of the paint, than KAT?

I realize he hasn't helped his case, but the reality is that you can tackle KAT to keep him from getting the ball at the elbow and most officials will ignore it. You can spin him by the off arm early in his drives and you won't get called. Teams know this. It is a disadvantage for us and I do think Conley and Finch need to speak for him when it's occurring.

[DNatagal]

He didn't foul as much on defense as he did on offense, which led to him being less aggressive on defense. Take away those offensive fouls and he becomes an average defender or better. His defensive rebounding made a big difference as he was the only one that tried to rebound at times.