Minnesota Timberwolves: 5 Early Preseason Takeaways
By Aaron Mah
KAT And Professor Big Shots Living Up To Their Billings
The Wolves house three rookies on their roster this season. However, two-thirds of the triumvirate are far from your everyday rook.
In the case of Nemanja Bjelica, for one, he’s 27 years old; as well, he brings forth a highly-accomplished professional/Euroleague resume.
A multi-skilled forward who lives by Gregg Popovich’s modern day motto of “move it or die,” the entire complexity of the game changes when the artist known as Professor Big Shots enters the contest.
Most notably, Bjelica has a knack of always making the right play. An extremely accurate spot-up catch-and-pull 3-point shooter, the Serbian native often leverages the said skill, in conjunction with his swingman-like handle, in his quest to bend the defense and engender the best shot possible.
His passing and dribble-drive game becomes contagious, turning the most renowned of blackholes (ahem, Shabazz Muhammad) into unselfish brethrens seeking to make the extra pass. The ball movement, and more importantly, the open 3s and paint points a lineup that features a healthy Ricky Rubio and Bjelica will generate will certainly be a refreshing sight to be behold.
Karl-Anthony Towns is an unique neophyte in his own right. A rare No. 1 overall pick who spent only one season in college, equipped with a repertoire of refined skills that belies his tender age of 19.
Whether he’s draining step-back midrange jumpers, delivering one of his trademark pinpoint passes while operating out of the post, or fighting in the trenches and rebounding outside of his area, KAT has looked mighty impressive.
Defensively, as he showed in Summer League, Towns is an effective rim protector; but, his eagerness to go after every shot and fall for every pump fake, in conjunction with some untimely rotations, has gotten the former Kentucky Wildcat in constant foul trouble — averaging an alarming 6.4 fouls per 36 minutes through the team’s first three exhibition contests.
However, when playing alongside an experienced group of intelligent positional defenders, most notably, during their most recent game in Ottawa, Towns was able to showcase a more conservative brand of D — protecting the rim, but not overzealously.
Karl-Anthony Towns had 3 blocks & 0 fouls in 20 mins (also 12 points & 6 boards). If all goes well, won't be long until he's top 5 in blocks
— Michael Gallagher (@MikeSGallagher) October 15, 2015
Down the line, there are going to be nights when KAT gets plagued by foul trouble, and games where Bjelica’s lack of quickness and length on D hinders his impact (although he is a fine rotational defender), but one thing has become for certain: both “rookies” are undoubtedly ready to seize the lion share of the Wolves frontcourt minutes this upcoming season.
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