After Karl-Anthony Towns dropped 31 points on New Year's Day, Utah coach Will explained why the Knicks Center's long-range shooting has more reputation than reality.
It was intended and received as a compliment.
Defenders are so concerned about his trey that they sell out and give up the look of the paint.
As Hardy said, Town's “3S is loud, but the reality is he's only ever taken 20 shots and only six were 3s. 3 was part of the night against the town that hurt more than itself.”
“I'm worried that I'm shooting the ball, you're worried that I'm shooting and when I shoot it and make it, it feels like five 3-pointers in one, so I It's an honor to be kind of the mystique of the team. That's good for us,” Towns recently responded. “I'm happy about that.”
Three weeks and a thumb injury later, the discussion is relevant again, but with a new question: What if Towns' 3-pointers are no longer such a threat?
Although the sample size is too small to draw conclusions, Towns' jumper was most negatively affected by his injured thumb, more so than any other part of his game, and his shooting hand.
He acknowledged that after going 0-for-3 from deep in Tuesday's Nets win.
“I also shot an air ball,” Towns said. “That's crazy.”
In two games since returning from a sprained thumb, Town is 1-for-9 on treys. Worst two-game stretch from deep of the season (he's shooting 43.3% from beyond the arc overall).
Still, Machi remained Brooklyn's offensive force, dropping 26 points on 11-for-18 shooting with 16 rebounds, six assists, two blocks, and three steals.
It reminded me of what Hardy mentioned. Despite his reputation as a 3-point specialist, Towns is multidimensional offensively.
“I work hard on my game,” Towns said. “I'm more than just a 3-point shooter.”
Depending on his adjustment and comfort level with his thumb, Town may have to prove it more often.
OG Anunoby cited the two-time Rhine Super Bowl champion when asked about the bond benefits of winning ugly games.
“I think there's some truth to that. Good teams win games like this,” Anunoby said after Brooklyn's win, which included a near fourth-quarter collapse. “They find a way to win, no matter what. You see it in football, Chiefs – they win no matter what.”
The Knicks also recently won an ugly grind-em-out game against the Sixth and Hawks.
They will next face the King on Saturday after a three-day break.
“We're still thinking about it,” Josh Hart said. “We've grown a little bit as a team and personnel. So we've come to understand it. We know that. But obviously, we'd rather do it with wins rather than losses. That's what I think.
