Karl-Anthony Towns may be renowned for his three-point shooting prowess, but his ability to drive to the rim off the dribble effectively at a high volume transformed his offensive game into what it is today. Towns’ reputation as a threat from distance mainly came from the quick development of his three-point shot.
KAT started off his career primarily as a post player and mid-range jump shooter, but he evolved into the dynamic three-point shooter and off-the-dribble rim attacker we know today. That change has increased effectiveness on offense, even though it brings added attention and often more defensive pressure his way.
Below are some stats to paint the picture of how this has adapted as a player, specifically as a driver:
Towns’ drives and shot volume have remained linear throughout his career, but he has increased his volume of drives and shots off of them. However, as Towns has increased his volume on drives and effectiveness, defenses are starting to give him more attention. When he’s getting better shots at the rim at a higher rate, opposing defenses will want to shut it down or direct the ball away from him. Whether they increase low-man help or even double the ball on post-ups, KAT has to make quick decisions based on the defense.
That’s where the offense starts to clog up.
An early example of these struggles came two seasons ago in the 2021-22 playoffs against the Memphis Grizzlies. As you can see in the table above, KAT’s drives became most productive this season, going from 5.6 drives per game in 2020-21 to 7.9 in 2021/22. That made it easy for KAT to clean up offensively because the Memphis Grizzlies matched up a much slower Steven Adams on him. They set Jaren Jackson Jr. aside as the roamer off of Jarred Vanderbilt, a non-three-point shooter, to attempt to deter shots at the rim. But it wasn’t enough. KAT took full advantage of Adams in Game 1, shooting 9/13 on two-point field goals, finishing with 29 points in a win.
Taylor Jenkins changed things up in Game 2, taking Adams out of the rotation. Instead, he put pressure and quickness on KAT, matching up Brandon Clarke and Kyle Anderson on him, while JJJ stayed as the roamer. That caused more issues for KAT throughout the series. He only scored 15 points in Game 2 and 8 points in Game 3, all on limited shot attempts. While Towns had big performances in Game 4 and Game 5, much of this was due to JJJ getting into foul trouble. Still, Jenkins had found a blueprint for slowing KAT down when he gets in his groove or is in a playoff atmosphere.
Other coaches have adapted Jenkins’ game plan throughout the league, including in Minnesota’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans last Monday. Towns primarily lined up against Herb Jones, the Pelicans’ premier defender, who put a lot of pressure on KAT. Jones’ pressure forced Towns into the congested driving lanes to offer the defenders a chance to poke the ball away for a steal or completely get the ball out of his hands on a wild pass.
The pressure also meant he could not get quick three-point shots off because he couldn’t create separation with the defender. That created a difficult scenario for KAT. He started the game out 5 of 5 from the field for 15 points in the first half. But KAT would shoot 0/6 in the second half, scoring only 2 points at the free throw line. While Anthony Edwards was out for this game with his hip injury, they needed more consistent scoring throughout the game.
If KAT got a mismatch on to Zion Williamson or Brandon Ingram, New Orleans would send a double team. The Pelicans wanted to get the ball out of his hands as quickly as possible, so he could not find an easy shot attempt. Another Wolves player had to salvage the possession, and he usually got the ball with limited time left on the clock and not much structure to work with.
KAT’s best matchup is when he’s guarded by a big like Jonas Valanciunas. However, the Pelicans matched Valanciunas with Rudy Gobert for most of the game.
The shot attempts below highlight how the defense wanted KAT to play and also how he ended up reacting:
These coverages hinder KAT. The Wolves need him to get more three-point looks because he is their best three-point shooter. Minnesota currently ranks 23rd in the league in 3-point attempts per game. Therefore, when KAT relies too much on his drives, it throws off the offensive flow.
We must also consider the context of the lineups Towns plays in. Suppose Chris Finch pairs KAT with Shake Milton and Kyle Anderson, two players who do not look to take many shots from beyond the arc. That can cause KAT to become more one-dimensional instead of toggling between his drives and taking three-point shots. That causes a complicated situation for KAT, where defenders cannot anticipate his offensive actions using the moment and context of a possession.
Much of KAT’s offensive success comes down to finding more structure to create more opportunities for him to make three-point shots. The Wolves can use more Horns Flare looks we have seen frequently or even something as simple as pick-and-pops. If the Wolves and KAT prioritize his three-point shooting ability, it will only make his drives just as effective, if not even more effective.
The situations they put KAT in currently are not favorable positions for either player, and they rely too much on self-creation. That then leads to chaotic turnovers or playing directly into the defense. The Wolves, Finch, and KAT have the tools to unlock his offense. But they need to find better ways to unlock their star player because it will positively affect the rest of the team.
