The pressure of playing in New York hasn’t affected Karl-Anthony Towns, who’s in the midst of the best season of his career, writes James L. Edwards III of The Athletic. Headed to his fifth All-Star Game this weekend, Towns is likely to be an All-NBA selection for the third time and should get some MVP consideration, Edwards adds.
Towns has changed the trajectory of the Knicks’ offense after being acquired from Minnesota in October to play for his home-town team. He’s averaging 24.7 points and a career-high 13.4 rebounds through 49 games while shooting a career-best 43.8% from three-point range and posting the second-best true shooting percentage of his career.
More importantly, Edwards notes that Towns is experiencing the team success he rarely found with the Timberwolves before last year’s run to the Western Conference Finals. New York heads into the break third in the East at 36-18 and could be a legitimate title contender if the core of the team stays healthy for the playoffs.
“I tried my best in my career to be appreciative of these moments,” Towns said about his latest All-Star selection. “This is something I’ve learned as my career has gone on, a decade in. I make it a point to appreciate these moments as they come, because you never know what life has. When I was younger, I felt like I was very invincible, that nothing would happen. Then injuries came along in my career, which I had never dealt with my entire life. It humbled me, slowed me down and allowed me to appreciate these moments, because you never know what life has in store.”
There’s more from New York:
- The Knicks are off to their best start in nearly 30 years, but the players understand there’s a lot of work left to be done, per Peter Botte of The New York Post. The team is tied for the fourth-best record in the NBA, but it hasn’t been successful in matchups with elite opponents, going 0-5 against Oklahoma City, Cleveland and Boston. “I think offensively, we’re doing great. Defensively, we got things to work on,” Towns said. “Consistency, discipline, but I think these are all things that I think, as y’all in the media could see, that’s from Game 1 to now, it’s we’re a much better version of ourselves. I’ve always talked about with y’all since Day 1, about what the one percent — finding ourselves getting one percent better every night. And I think this team has grown.”
- Precious Achiuwa is taking advantage of the increased playing time he has been getting while OG Anunoby is injured, Botte adds in a separate story. Achiuwa scored 26 points, his highest total with the Knicks and one short of his career best, in Wednesday’s overtime win over Atlanta. “I’m just playing my game and trusting my game. I’m in a good rhythm right now,” said Achiuwa, who was making his fifth straight start at power forward. “It’s just being ready for whatever is asked of me and being able to perform at whatever levels are needed for us to win games. However much I can be out there, I just want to win basketball games.”
- Steve Popper of Newsday examines five important Knicks questions for the remainder of the season, including how much Mitchell Robinson can be expected to contribute whenever he returns from offseason surgery.
I’m glad Precious is back with the Knicks. It felt like forever last summer for him to resign with them. Hopefully, he stays long-term. A very underrated player
Me too. Glad we got him. He’s from the BX so understands the fans …… he’s a Thibs player
“I think offensively, we’re doing great. Defensively, we got things to work on” –
Yep. But with only 28 games left, I’m not sure 1% better a game is going to get it done by the end of this year.
I’ll take a small L myself on KAT
Never doubted the skill but everything else was always in question with me. He has proved me wrong today
A lot of the momentum started last playoffs with Kat, he was their most consistent player inc AE
Towns is having a great yr. Imo he’s playing his best ball. But defensively he needs help. Its why I’m for Achiuwa starting. If you watched that Hawks game. You saw how he can hurt Knicks. A first yr starter. You have to be thankful of the yr he’s having. Towns and Brunson are firmly Knicks top scorers. Team still a work in progress. Like KAT.
Towns has also changed New York’s defensive end in a big way. Only hiding Brunson last season. Bit harder hiding two inferior defenders. Refer to knicks v celtics games this season. Brunson and Kat getting absolutely hunted and burned relentlessly. This won’t get easier in the playoffs especially when Brunson isn’t rewarded for hunting fouls on the Offensive end as much.
“NBA Coach Sees Jalen Brunson, KAT as Defensive Liabilities amid Knicks’ Title Chase“
link to bleacherreport.com
I believe this is a fair assessment. But their other three guys have to play and help. Knicks team D started bad. Has gotten better.
link to bleacherreport.com
KAT and Brunson D could be exploited in playoffs. Teams are better. And its 5-7 gms with same team. Thats where other three guys, Hart, Bridges, OG. Have to step up and help. This is why having Achiuwa and Mitch will pay dividends. Knicks depth has to come thru. Mitch is great addition on D. We could use another body on O (TJ Warren maybe).
First time since Clyde and The Pearl …….
Knicks have two starters in all star game.
NY is so starved to be good and win. That players can let the noise get to them. This group under Thibs. Seems like a fundamentally sound group. They always say the right things. And know they win as a team. Thibs always talks highly of that. Its good to see man …….. NYK.