May 26, 2024; Dallas, Texas — In the heat of the Western Conference Finals, the Minnesota Timberwolves find themselves in a precarious position, trailing the Dallas Mavericks three games to none. A significant factor contributing to this deficit has been the shooting woes of their star center, Karl-Anthony Towns.
“I gotta laugh, I’m putting up to 1,500 shots a day and shot so well all playoffs,” Karl-Anthony Towns admitted after the Timberwolves’ Game 3 loss. “Confidence extremely high and to be having these unfortunate bounces and these looks that are just not going in, it’s tough, it’s tough for sure. Confidence-wise, I just gotta keep shooting.”
TNT Analysts Cast Doubt on Karl-Anthony Towns’ Practice Claims
The Inside the NBA crew on TNT, featuring Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, Shaquille O’Neal, and Draymond Green, were quick to express their skepticism about Towns’ claim of taking up to 1,500 practice shots a day.
“KAT capping,” Draymond Green declared. “Ain’t nobody shooting 1,500 shots a day right now.”
Kenny Smith echoed Green’s sentiment, asserting, “He lying.” Smith elaborated on the logistics, explaining how long it might take a player to take 1,500 practice shots a day. “I never took shots, I did makes. To make 300 in a day takes about 45 minutes. So if you’re taking about 1,500 it’s going to take you about two and a half hours. And you already practiced and shootaround, so it’s cap,” Smith said.
Barkley’s Perspective on Karl-Anthony Towns’ Shooting Approach
Charles Barkley, while agreeing that Karl-Anthony Towns was exaggerating, offered a different critique. According to Barkley, Towns’ problem isn’t his work ethic but rather the type of shots he’s taking.
“The thing that’s funny about him saying that, first of all he’s lying. Let’s just say hypothetically he was telling the truth. If he’s shooting 1,500 threes, that’s the problem,” Barkley explained. “It’s the type of shots he’s getting. That’s the problem. It has nothing to do with him not working on his game. If he’s just out there shooting 3s, he’s still 4-for-32.”
The Numbers Don’t Lie
The statistics support Barkley’s criticism. Karl-Anthony Towns has made just 3-of-22 3-pointers against the Mavericks and is 4-of-32 from deep dating back to Game 6 in the conference semifinals against the Denver Nuggets. These dismal numbers highlight a shooting slump that has significantly impacted the Timberwolves’ performance.
Towns clarified that he said he takes “up to” 1,500 shots a day, not that he is taking that many every day. However, the frequency of these practice sessions remains unknown and is a point that Towns might need to address to quell the criticism from the TNT analysts.
Can Karl-Anthony Towns Bounce Back?
As the Timberwolves face elimination, Karl-Anthony Towns’ ability to adjust his shooting approach and regain his confidence will be crucial. The spotlight is on him not just to prove his claims but to lead his team back from the brink. The road ahead is daunting, but for Towns, it’s a matter of maintaining belief and continuing to put in the work.
In the words of Karl-Anthony Towns, “Confidence-wise, I just gotta keep shooting.” Whether the shots start falling or not, the scrutiny from the TNT crew and the expectations from fans will continue to follow the Timberwolves’ star center.
