longstrangetrip wrote:What we don't know is this: is his tendency to hang out at the top of the key and either shoot long distance or drive to the hoop his idea, or something Thibs is directing in his offense. I've been hard on Thibs here, but I tend to think this is KAT's fault (although Thibs needs to bench him when he does things he doestn like).
If we're assigning fault and Thibs is not okay with it then Thibs has to take the majority of the heat for allowing it to continue through 10 games. KAT doesn't strike me as the type of personality that is going to do whatever he pleases rather than following his coaches instruction so I personally believe this has to be a Thibs thing. We really haven't seen KAT focus his attention inside of offense at all this season, this isn't happening against Thibs will.
Don't know one way or the other.
But the NBA is NOT a coach's league... even when that coach was just hired and is also the GM. It's a player's league... more importantly... a superstar player league.
Heck, some of the best "GMs" right now are actually the star players. There's a reason Towns is on the cover of ESPN. There's a reason he's idolized by groupies, from kids to comely young women to grizzled old bearded men, wherever he goes. And he's only 21.
The trappings of fame have topped many men. And I don't mean to alarm anybody with Towns... but those trappings are there. The influences are there. The best players either learn to compartmentalize them or overcome them. He's young. There's time to figure it out. But in the end... it's not what his coach says or does... it's what the player does. It's on the player to be great. Nobody else.
About q's observation about Towns' "PR speak"... I've mentioned that I think it's a bit much at times. But it never felt like too much of a problem.
I think it comes down to today's culture of star athletes. I have to remind myself that these guys are from a different generation than I am. Towns ONLY knows the LeBron James era. He only knows of an era where an entire (don't say posse!) group follows a star player around. Where players actively try to convey a certain persona publicly because they can parlay that into immense riches off the court.
Remember, the true stars make more money in endorsements than they make on the court.
Towns has been told that he's the next in line. And he's acting like it... while skipping several steps... along the way. It's understandable. I just hope it's adjustable.
Abe, While I find KAT's syrupy platitudes a little tiring, I actually do believe that overall he's a well-grounded person. Unlike a lot of these guys, he grew up in what appears to be a stable two-parent household with a strong father figure who was.....actually his father!
I do think Thibs is to blame a bit here. He probably needs to take a page out of Coach Cal's book and tell KAT that he needs to start playing more like a traditional Center, especially on defense. While Dieng is tasked with the dirty work of guarding opposing Centers and protecting the paint, I think KAT is better equipped to do this. We don't need KAT "protected" from fouls when we have Wiggins, LaVine, and others that can carry a pretty big offensive load.
Q12543 wrote:Abe, While I find KAT's syrupy platitudes a little tiring, I actually do believe that overall he's a well-grounded person. Unlike a lot of these guys, he grew up in what appears to be a stable two-parent household with a strong father figure who was.....actually his father!
I do think Thibs is to blame a bit here. He probably needs to take a page out of Coach Cal's book and tell KAT that he needs to start playing more like a traditional Center, especially on defense. While Dieng is tasked with the dirty work of guarding opposing Centers and protecting the paint, I think KAT is better equipped to do this. We don't need KAT "protected" from fouls when we have Wiggins, LaVine, and others that can carry a pretty big offensive load.
I tend to agree with you that he seems more grounded than a lot of athletes. In fact, it's why I'm not too alarmed by any of it yet.
Q12543 wrote:Abe, While I find KAT's syrupy platitudes a little tiring, I actually do believe that overall he's a well-grounded person. Unlike a lot of these guys, he grew up in what appears to be a stable two-parent household with a strong father figure who was.....actually his father!
I do think Thibs is to blame a bit here. He probably needs to take a page out of Coach Cal's book and tell KAT that he needs to start playing more like a traditional Center, especially on defense. While Dieng is tasked with the dirty work of guarding opposing Centers and protecting the paint, I think KAT is better equipped to do this. We don't need KAT "protected" from fouls when we have Wiggins, LaVine, and others that can carry a pretty big offensive load.
I just listened to the Thorpe Lowe podcast where they talk about the Wolves. The Wolves when they were talking were #2 offensively and we know they suck on defense. So one way or another except that 3rd quarter and also in spite of it plenty is working on offense. Thibs has the legit reputation as a defensive coach. I'll defer to him and his concepts and system on that end although i agree of a lot of what you say about the defensive roles Town and Dieng could play.
