Minnesota Sports Forum

CoolBreeze44 wrote:It's not just "want to" that KAT doesn't have on defense. He also sucks at it the few times he actually tries. Poor fundamentals, terrible instincts, and an incredibly weak base. I think he has to play the 4 next to a guy who can actually defend the rim.

I've always thought he would be best at the 4 as well. But he really looks "clunky" on the court. Almost unnatural in a bad way. He cannot play the 4, and if he cannot figure out the defensive side as a 5 then we are in for a long one..

Agree with Cool on KAT. This isn't just effort, it's a comedic lack of fundamentals and a terribly weak base.

Leave it to the Wolves to grab two #1 picks, each with massive defects in their game that is critical to winning basketball. For one it's motor (Wiggins), for the other it's interior defense (KAT).

I can't even really get mad at Flip since I don't think anyone thought these two would be this bad defensively 3+ years into their careers. I remember thinking that we finally had a couple of prospects that had a chance of being good on both ends. What a shame......

Q12543 wrote:Agree with Cool on KAT. This isn't just effort, it's a comedic lack of fundamentals and a terribly weak base.

Leave it to the Wolves to grab two #1 picks, each with massive defects in their game that is critical to winning basketball. For one it's motor (Wiggins), for the other it's interior defense (KAT).

I can't even really get mad at Flip since I don't think anyone thought these two would be this bad defensively 3+ years into their careers. I remember thinking that we finally had a couple of prospects that had a chance of being good on both ends. What a shame......

Nope...can't get mad at Flip at all, becasue 90% of the pundits (and almost all of us) saw Towns as the logical #1 pick. And it't interesting...it wasnt his defense that anyone worried about, it was his post offense. He was a terrific defender in college, but in the limited minutes he got at Kentucky, he didn't show much offensive production. Here was his draft profile:

http://www.nbadraft.net/players/karl-anthony-towns


Strength and interior defense were actually considered his strong points coming into the draft. I agree that his lack of fundamentals is ridiculous. Calipari isn't regarded as a strong technical coach is neither is Mitchell. But the fact that KAT seems to have regressed defensively under Thibs certainly makes you question Thibs' former defensive reputation. There's just no evidence that KAT is going to reach his potential under Thibs.

Lip

I wonder what your hear from KAT's Dad in your section after bad defensive plays? Or maybe he doesn't know defense either and that is why KAT never learned as a youth player.

Logo wrote:Lip

I wonder what your hear from KAT's Dad in your section after bad defensive plays? Or maybe he doesn't know defense either and that is why KAT never learned as a youth player.

Yeah, it's such a mystery, because his Dad seems like a pretty grounded, knowledgeable guy. Also, don't forget that Al Horford has served as somewhat of a mentor to KAT on the Dominican Republic national team. Al Horford might be one of the more defensively sound, fundamental players in the game. How the eff does none of this rub off on KAT!?! Thibs, his Dad, Horford, 7-footer, long arms, athletic....zero excuses.

Q12543 wrote:

Logo wrote:Lip

I wonder what your hear from KAT's Dad in your section after bad defensive plays? Or maybe he doesn't know defense either and that is why KAT never learned as a youth player.

Yeah, it's such a mystery, because his Dad seems like a pretty grounded, knowledgeable guy. Also, don't forget that Al Horford has served as somewhat of a mentor to KAT on the Dominican Republic national team. Al Horford might be one of the more defensively sound, fundamental players in the game. How the eff does none of this rub off on KAT!?! Thibs, his Dad, Horford, 7-footer, long arms, athletic....zero excuses.

He seems to believe that he is an angel and that the rim is his halo..

TheFuture wrote:

Q12543 wrote:

Logo wrote:Lip

I wonder what your hear from KAT's Dad in your section after bad defensive plays? Or maybe he doesn't know defense either and that is why KAT never learned as a youth player.

Yeah, it's such a mystery, because his Dad seems like a pretty grounded, knowledgeable guy. Also, don't forget that Al Horford has served as somewhat of a mentor to KAT on the Dominican Republic national team. Al Horford might be one of the more defensively sound, fundamental players in the game. How the eff does none of this rub off on KAT!?! Thibs, his Dad, Horford, 7-footer, long arms, athletic....zero excuses.

He seems to believe that he is an angel and that the rim is his halo..

Ha! You'd think he'd want to get out from under the halo after getting hit in the head by so many basketballs going through it!