Hoops Habit
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NBA: Off-season weakness each star should have worked on

By Josh Cornelissen

Mar 22, 2021; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) chats with Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine (8) during the first half of an NBA game at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 22, 2021; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) chats with Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine (8) during the first half of an NBA game at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves. Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images /

25. Karl-Anthony Towns, C, Minnesota Timberwolves – Rim protection

Karl-Anthony Towns has faced tragedy and adversity again and again over the past few seasons, and every basketball fan has to be excited to see him healthy to start the season. After a strong end to the season for the young Wolves under new head coach Chris Finch, there is optimism in Minnesota for a strong season.

That will happen only if Karl-Anthony Towns carries this team. D’Angelo Russell is a fine offensive point guard, and Anthony Edwards is brimming with potential, but Towns will need to be the offensive fulcrum. That’s great, because Towns has shown he is one of the best shooting centers in NBA history already, and could easily average 27-12-5 this season.

Where Towns needs to improve is on the defensive end. It is difficult to hide a center who does not make much of a defensive impact. A few times a game Towns blocks a shot or jumps a passing lane, but overall he is well below average as a rim protector. With a starting backcourt light on defense themselves, the Wolves need someone on the back line who can deter players who get penetration.

No one is asking Towns to be Rudy Gobert, but he needs to be passable to raise this team’s ceiling. If Towns makes meaningful strides defensively, he and the Wolves could absolutely make the play-in and have a shot at the playoff field proper.