Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns has been working on personal growth to set a better example for his teammates, per Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic. Part of that process included making peace with Tom Thibodeau after their uneasy relationship when they were together in Minnesota. "I remember after we played the Knicks (last season) pulling Thibs to the side," Towns said. "I said, 'I just want to let you know I forgive you.' There's not bad blood. One day let's just go get dinner. Let's just chill. We don't have to worry about the business side, let's just work on our relationship."
Things like this make it harder for me to root for Karl-Anthony Towns. What did Tom Thibodeau do to Towns that made him feel like he needed to "forgive" him? Wild. I wish KAT wasn't soft.
Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns has been working on personal growth to set a better example for his teammates, per Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic. Part of that process included making peace with Tom Thibodeau after their uneasy relationship when they were together in Minnesota. "I remember after we played the Knicks (last season) pulling Thibs to the side," Towns said. "I said, 'I just want to let you know I forgive you.' There's not bad blood. One day let's just go get dinner. Let's just chill. We don't have to worry about the business side, let's just work on our relationship."
Things like this make it harder for me to root for Karl-Anthony Towns. What did Tom Thibodeau do to Towns that made him feel like he needed to "forgive" him? Wild. I wish KAT wasn't soft.
I paused when reading it, too. Seems like such an odd thing.
I chalked it up to not knowing what actually happened. So it could be anything.
I also always thought it was odd how Butler went scorched earth on Towns and Wiggins allegedly... and Thibs and the organization ran with it and just let him throw the alleged franchise player under the proverbial bus.
Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns has been working on personal growth to set a better example for his teammates, per Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic. Part of that process included making peace with Tom Thibodeau after their uneasy relationship when they were together in Minnesota. "I remember after we played the Knicks (last season) pulling Thibs to the side," Towns said. "I said, 'I just want to let you know I forgive you.' There's not bad blood. One day let's just go get dinner. Let's just chill. We don't have to worry about the business side, let's just work on our relationship."
Things like this make it harder for me to root for Karl-Anthony Towns. What did Tom Thibodeau do to Towns that made him feel like he needed to "forgive" him? Wild. I wish KAT wasn't soft.
Damn, Lip sets up a thread to make us feel better about KAT, and then Jon K has to give us this weird tidbit. I agree, the "I forgive you" is just bizarre. Forgive Thibs for paying him $30 million a year and giving him the minutes to become an all-star? Please God...give me someone to forgive!
Yeah, our most productive player is difficult to cheer for. Fortunately there are a lot of guys on this roster who I really like personally (at least based on their public persona), so I'm going to take what I can get from KAT the basketball player and try my best to ignore KAT the man.
Camden wrote:The expectation for this season was for the Wolves to make the play-in tournament. This group, especially with its youth, needs to make progressive goals and actually meet them. That's the first one and they're on pace to do exactly that.
They have an outside chance of exceeding expectations by claiming a top-six seed which would guarantee them a playoff spot. It's well within reach, but they may need some savvy additions at the deadline to give them the extra push.
In any event, talking about a championship with this group is silly, in my opinion. They haven't earned that yet and if they ever do the team will likely have more turnover before then. It could be an entirely different core by that time. Let's pump the brakes.
Sure, this season it's very unlikely, what are the Vegas odds? 200-1.
I'm saying as a long term goal we need to be thinking Championship. Not just hope to make the play in. We need to look bigger picture. Are we getting better and taking steps towards that ultimate goal? Then yes I would consider it a success. I think 10th seed and then losing would be a disappointment.
Make top 8, I wouldn't not be looking at making roster moves, but would rather be much more on board keeping DLO/KAT and ANT together.
I just think we as fans need to expect the team to get better, hold them accountable. Not just settle with mediocrity.
Camden wrote:The expectation for this season was for the Wolves to make the play-in tournament. This group, especially with its youth, needs to make progressive goals and actually meet them. That's the first one and they're on pace to do exactly that.
They have an outside chance of exceeding expectations by claiming a top-six seed which would guarantee them a playoff spot. It's well within reach, but they may need some savvy additions at the deadline to give them the extra push.
In any event, talking about a championship with this group is silly, in my opinion. They haven't earned that yet and if they ever do the team will likely have more turnover before then. It could be an entirely different core by that time. Let's pump the brakes.
Sure, this season it's very unlikely, what are the Vegas odds? 200-1.
I'm saying as a long term goal we need to be thinking Championship. Not just hope to make the play in. We need to look bigger picture. Are we getting better and taking steps towards that ultimate goal? Then yes I would consider it a success. I think 10th seed and then losing would be a disappointment.
Make top 8, I wouldn't not be looking at making roster moves, but would rather be much more on board keeping DLO/KAT and ANT together.
I just think we as fans need to expect the team to get better, hold them accountable. Not just settle with mediocrity.
Sure, but shouldn't the team get to a level of success that's actually mediocre first? They've been less than that for most of my time as a fan. I'd love a double serving of mediocre if for no other reason than it shows some kind of growth. It's always baby steps with this franchise. Play-in tournament, then playoffs or maybe even a series win, and then we can discuss becoming a contender or more. I just think it's silly -- and I'm not aiming this at you entirely -- to be thinking of how this team wins a championship when they've only made the playoffs twice in the past almost 20 years. One step at a time, my friend, but hopefully we get to have those conversations in the somewhat near future.
Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns has been working on personal growth to set a better example for his teammates, per Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic. Part of that process included making peace with Tom Thibodeau after their uneasy relationship when they were together in Minnesota. "I remember after we played the Knicks (last season) pulling Thibs to the side," Towns said. "I said, 'I just want to let you know I forgive you.' There's not bad blood. One day let's just go get dinner. Let's just chill. We don't have to worry about the business side, let's just work on our relationship."
Things like this make it harder for me to root for Karl-Anthony Towns. What did Tom Thibodeau do to Towns that made him feel like he needed to "forgive" him? Wild. I wish KAT wasn't soft.
Damn, Lip sets up a thread to make us feel better about KAT, and then Jon K has to give us this weird tidbit. I agree, the "I forgive you" is just bizarre. Forgive Thibs for paying him $30 million a year and giving him the minutes to become an all-star? Please God...give me someone to forgive!
Yeah, our most productive player is difficult to cheer for. Fortunately there are a lot of guys on this roster who I really like personally (at least based on their public persona), so I'm going to take what I can get from KAT the basketball player and try my best to ignore KAT the man.
I don't think it's hard to figure out that Towns wasn't thrilled with Thibs at the end of Thibs time in MN and there may have been some good reasons or maybe understandable reasons based on Towns perspective. Personally I find it encouraging that Towns is looking to do things like this. It could also feed into his victim complex but oh well. I don't see any harm in it. Maybe part of this is Towns may also have seen Thibs success with the Knicks and realized Thibs may be a good coach after all.
Q-was-here wrote:We're still 27th in the league in defensive rebounding percentage, so it's still a problem for us. I think we need a different backup C than Naz Reid. And yes, it needs to be someone that is bigger and stronger than Naz. Someone that is a really good screen setter on offense and a really physical presence on defense. I don't think just picking up a journeyman zero-offense "banger" is an upgrade, but it can't be a $10M+ per year type player either, so not sure what the list of guys are that fit somewhere in between.
I haven't been watching the games but it does look like statistically Naz has taken a step back. I tend to think he is still a good (meaning rotation player) in the NBA on a worthwhile team. As you basically laid out here Naz isn't the right guy for this team as a backup center. I don't think Naz is so much soft as it's just he is playing the wrong role. He needs to be the change of pace guy that can get you some buckets help the bench offensively a little. Instead he is a lesser version of Towns on a team with little size that needs some toughness and rebounding. They could really use a rough and tumble guy like a Tristin Thompson guy even.
Back to the article I think it's a very good one by Brit very balanced and brings up a lot of good points. I think we all agree that to one degree or another Towns is not actually as likeable as we would want him to be. There are a lot of very good/star players that have some aspect that makes them unlikeable. Lebron has been either the top or top 2 players in the league for what at least 10 years and ther are a ton of fans that dislike him VERY much. Towns is probably one of the nicest star players but he is unlikeable for some kinda weird reasons. People can't say it's because of his defense now unless the Wolves fall off the map (please don't) on defense the rest of the season.
I think the Wolves need to add something to their frontcourt and they should be looking to add some size and toughness to the roster. I think with Rosas gone that's going to be more likely to be addressed. I mean if nothing else they signed Monroe to a 10 day contract. He isn't exactly a Rosas type.
First, I think Cam is spot on in his assessment of where this team is at and what can be reasonably expected of them. I also agree with Cam that this team could really use a roster boost via trade by the deadline. It doesn't have to be a blockbuster, and in fact, it shouldn't be. Just something to improve the rotation - preferably acquisition of some size like a Robin Lopez.
Second, I agree the KAT comments about forgiving Thibs was weird. KAT seems to have his own reality in some respects and it's not in sync with the world he's living in. That said, perhaps Thibs needs forgiveness for letting Butler act out on Towns the way he did. And in any event, KAT is a terrific player and this team's best player by far right now. And while he's a pretty weird and often annoying dude, he's not a jerk like so many in professional sports and entertainment generally.
Third, I agree that KAT will eventually have to be our second-best player if this team is going to become a championship contender. And I agree that Ant has the talent to become this team's #1 as a championship contender. If that happens, KAT will be one heck of a 2nd best player.
Camden wrote:The expectation for this season was for the Wolves to make the play-in tournament. This group, especially with its youth, needs to make progressive goals and actually meet them. That's the first one and they're on pace to do exactly that.
They have an outside chance of exceeding expectations by claiming a top-six seed which would guarantee them a playoff spot. It's well within reach, but they may need some savvy additions at the deadline to give them the extra push.
In any event, talking about a championship with this group is silly, in my opinion. They haven't earned that yet and if they ever do the team will likely have more turnover before then. It could be an entirely different core by that time. Let's pump the brakes.
Sure, this season it's very unlikely, what are the Vegas odds? 200-1.
I'm saying as a long term goal we need to be thinking Championship. Not just hope to make the play in. We need to look bigger picture. Are we getting better and taking steps towards that ultimate goal? Then yes I would consider it a success. I think 10th seed and then losing would be a disappointment.
Make top 8, I wouldn't not be looking at making roster moves, but would rather be much more on board keeping DLO/KAT and ANT together.
I just think we as fans need to expect the team to get better, hold them accountable. Not just settle with mediocrity.
Sure, but shouldn't the team get to a level of success that's actually mediocre first? They've been less than that for most of my time as a fan. I'd love a double serving of mediocre if for no other reason than it shows some kind of growth. It's always baby steps with this franchise. Play-in tournament, then playoffs or maybe even a series win, and then we can discuss becoming a contender or more. I just think it's silly -- and I'm not aiming this at you entirely -- to be thinking of how this team wins a championship when they've only made the playoffs twice in the past almost 20 years. One step at a time, my friend, but hopefully we get to have those conversations in the somewhat near future.
So you want to wait three years to win a 1st round? Won't KAT and DLO be like 30 then? Heck on your schedule KAT will be retired before they make the Finals.
Look at Phoenix, it's not unrealistic to expect bigger jumps then mediocre, mediocre, win a playoff round.
Let's get this shit moving. I expect this organization to compete for a Championship. That is the goal. Not settle for "good",
Camden wrote:The expectation for this season was for the Wolves to make the play-in tournament. This group, especially with its youth, needs to make progressive goals and actually meet them. That's the first one and they're on pace to do exactly that.
They have an outside chance of exceeding expectations by claiming a top-six seed which would guarantee them a playoff spot. It's well within reach, but they may need some savvy additions at the deadline to give them the extra push.
In any event, talking about a championship with this group is silly, in my opinion. They haven't earned that yet and if they ever do the team will likely have more turnover before then. It could be an entirely different core by that time. Let's pump the brakes.
Sure, this season it's very unlikely, what are the Vegas odds? 200-1.
I'm saying as a long term goal we need to be thinking Championship. Not just hope to make the play in. We need to look bigger picture. Are we getting better and taking steps towards that ultimate goal? Then yes I would consider it a success. I think 10th seed and then losing would be a disappointment.
Make top 8, I wouldn't not be looking at making roster moves, but would rather be much more on board keeping DLO/KAT and ANT together.
I just think we as fans need to expect the team to get better, hold them accountable. Not just settle with mediocrity.
Sure, but shouldn't the team get to a level of success that's actually mediocre first? They've been less than that for most of my time as a fan. I'd love a double serving of mediocre if for no other reason than it shows some kind of growth. It's always baby steps with this franchise. Play-in tournament, then playoffs or maybe even a series win, and then we can discuss becoming a contender or more. I just think it's silly -- and I'm not aiming this at you entirely -- to be thinking of how this team wins a championship when they've only made the playoffs twice in the past almost 20 years. One step at a time, my friend, but hopefully we get to have those conversations in the somewhat near future.
So you want to wait three years to win a 1st round? Won't KAT and DLO be like 30 then? Heck on your schedule KAT will be retired before they make the Finals.
Look at Phoenix, it's not unrealistic to expect bigger jumps then mediocre, mediocre, win a playoff round.
Let's get this shit moving. I expect this organization to compete for a Championship. That is the goal. Not settle for "good",
When the Wolves add to their roster a first Ballot HOF and one of the best all around guys to ever play at his position I'll raise my current expectations for this team to a higher level than "good". This team has been ot terrible what like twice in 20years? I think hoping for this season for them to be good is pretty realistic for a progression to going to actually pursue a championship level roster. We have seen worthwhile guys want to make the jump to teams on the rise. That COULD be the Wolves.
