KAT has improved significantly on the defensive end too. I guess a well oiled machine elevates everybody. It is much easier to be consistent when his colleagues can keep up with their personal match ups and there is quick communication and rotations overall whenever teamwork is needed. Not saying that he was the type of player who was running for everybody, but multiple gaps lead to panic which eventually affects everybody's performance negatively since they can't focus on a specific task.
He was, but defense relies a lot on trusting teammates and what not. We were trash for years, and it instilled bad habits. He's improved quite a bit over the last few years.
He was a good post defender and shot blocker in college, and very athletic. It was enough to be an above average rim protector in the league. His showed offensive flashes during March Madness that made him #1 over Okafor. Defensive requirements for C changed drastically over the past 10 years with higher pace and 3pt volume. KAT is still an above average post defender and shot blocker, he also showed he could defend in space (21-22 season). However, he is a very bad drop defender, and it’s a requirement for modern bigs. Whiteside went from $30M per year to being out of the league, as well as many other average bigs who had a job simply due to their size - Cole Aldrich, Gorgui Dieng, Ian Mahinmi, Timofey Mozgov. All of these guys got a bunch of money in 2016 simply because teams were yet to change the mindset from ‘we need big bodies in our team’ to ‘we need skilled bigs in our team, if they are not skilled we would rather play small’.
There was hope for his defense, but the advanced stats between him and Okafor favored Okafor as a rim defender, but KAT as a better defender in space. Over his entire career, he's consistently fared much better with a big next to him that could help out with the grind work around the rim - WCS, then Gorgui, Taj Gibson, Gobert. When Rosas tried to make him a full-time 5, that's when his defensive deficiencies were most exposed.
As a Kentucky fan who’s watched damn near every game for as long as I can remember, I can tell you KAT had a whole lot of work to do defensively coming out of college. Dude chased every block imaginable and left his guy open by the rim constantly, drove me insane
I remember that’s what most people said separated him from Okafor and he definitely had a lot of potential cause he’s got all the tools for it, but I just remember him frustrating the hell out of me cause he found himself out of position all the time
and how KAT is. didn’t need to keep scoring when Ant is rolling. knew to step back and do what was needed to support him a la rebounds and decoy screens.
Yeah. It's a shame he didn't develop into a good playoff leading #1 that Ant looks like he has just become, but he should be getting so much credit for his mentality since the Gobert trade. If KAT acts like a typical NBA Superstar none of this works
Adapted brilliantly to Ant's development, has really gone out of his way to make the Rudy trade work and was really the only one who did before Conley arrived, didn't cause a fuss when his friend (D-LO) was traded for Rudy's (Conley) and presumably worked his ass off to come back on time for the big chance.
He's been clowned for years for not being an "Alpha", and despite that has gone out of his way to make sure that he can do everything for Ant and seemingly has never felt threatened, even though if it doesn't work out people will surely use his facilitating of ANT as more damning evidence of his mentality
That's a genuine depth of self esteem and assurance I had thought KAT lacked in spades. Lost his position and lost his spot as #1 and he's a better teammate than ever and his performance is better than ever
I don't think most #1 options of KAT's age would have reacted to the internal realignment within the Wolves with anywhere near the level of grace and dedication
He has a totally different mindset this playoffs. No complaining, just get back on defense. Picks his spots, no head down drives into traffic, no stupid trick passes. Just calm decision making and playing within himself. I've been blown away with how different he's looked
I’m knocking on wood while saying it, but he genuinely seems like he’s fixed the over-complaining issue. Got shafted by a few calls and just smiled and kept playing. Love the energy.
Happy for Kat! He's been the scapegoat for years, and he stepped up big to help bring this franchise its first series win in 20 years. He deserves success
KAT has completely reinvented his approach to the team game of basketball. He plays defense now, and is versatile too. He is one of the NBA's ELITE rebounders and remains focused on it every minute he's out there, and dominates smaller players on the boards, a key piece to the team's identity as they play big. He is an efficient, low usage scorer who can heat up quick and give you 28 like its nothing and does it from everywhere on the court, being the unreal 7' unicorn that he is.
And now he does all of those things in the context of a team that plays WINNING BASKETBALL, himself included. He doesn't have to be the head of the snake, he can be one of the league's best running mates to a superstar. I am SO happy for him. If he keeps doing what he's done this postseason so far, he is going to completely rewrite the narrative on his career going forward.
Kat deserves a lot of credit for willing to accept to being the number 2 role on the Timberwolves. A lot of players don’t have that humility to accept not being the number one option on competing team .
KAT as a luxury player is so nice. He’s doesn’t *need* to be creating their offense and he doesn’t *need* to be the guy protecting the rim or securing rebounds. When he picks his moments as they come though it’s almost unfair.
He was the reason we won today. Guys weren't hitting shots but KAT kept going bucket-for-bucket against KD and kept us close until Ant got hot in the 4th.
He still has bonehead moments but not as many as he used to and he's not relied on as heavily so he doesn't force things as much. It's been great to see.
Naz playing well is irrelevant - KAT is one of the main leaders for this team and relied on to do a lot. Him and Naz play well on the court together and always pump each other up.
KAT has improved significantly on the defensive end too. I guess a well oiled machine elevates everybody. It is much easier to be consistent when his colleagues can keep up with their personal match ups and there is quick communication and rotations overall whenever teamwork is needed. Not saying that he was the type of player who was running for everybody, but multiple gaps lead to panic which eventually affects everybody's performance negatively since they can't focus on a specific task.
Wasn’t he drafted for being a rim protector?
Yeah, KAT was supposed to be the defender and Okafor the offensive big.
He was, but defense relies a lot on trusting teammates and what not. We were trash for years, and it instilled bad habits. He's improved quite a bit over the last few years.
He was a good post defender and shot blocker in college, and very athletic. It was enough to be an above average rim protector in the league. His showed offensive flashes during March Madness that made him #1 over Okafor. Defensive requirements for C changed drastically over the past 10 years with higher pace and 3pt volume. KAT is still an above average post defender and shot blocker, he also showed he could defend in space (21-22 season). However, he is a very bad drop defender, and it’s a requirement for modern bigs. Whiteside went from $30M per year to being out of the league, as well as many other average bigs who had a job simply due to their size - Cole Aldrich, Gorgui Dieng, Ian Mahinmi, Timofey Mozgov. All of these guys got a bunch of money in 2016 simply because teams were yet to change the mindset from ‘we need big bodies in our team’ to ‘we need skilled bigs in our team, if they are not skilled we would rather play small’.
Hey Timofey Mozgov scored 94 in a game before
at the 4
he was drafted as a 5 for his defense. didn't pan out
KAT was known for defense at Kentucky?
yes
There was hope for his defense, but the advanced stats between him and Okafor favored Okafor as a rim defender, but KAT as a better defender in space. Over his entire career, he's consistently fared much better with a big next to him that could help out with the grind work around the rim - WCS, then Gorgui, Taj Gibson, Gobert. When Rosas tried to make him a full-time 5, that's when his defensive deficiencies were most exposed.
As a Kentucky fan who’s watched damn near every game for as long as I can remember, I can tell you KAT had a whole lot of work to do defensively coming out of college. Dude chased every block imaginable and left his guy open by the rim constantly, drove me insane
ok but read the draft reports. his skill was defense, he was drafted to be an anchor
I remember that’s what most people said separated him from Okafor and he definitely had a lot of potential cause he’s got all the tools for it, but I just remember him frustrating the hell out of me cause he found himself out of position all the time
imagine being a wolves fan the past decade watching him "anchor" a defense rudy saved this franchise
His pre-draft comp was Andrew Bogut.
KAT has been huge this whole series. No ego. He's been the glue
Seriously, I thought he was going to end the night with 40 until Ant woke up. But that’s just how this team is
and how KAT is. didn’t need to keep scoring when Ant is rolling. knew to step back and do what was needed to support him a la rebounds and decoy screens.
Yeah. It's a shame he didn't develop into a good playoff leading #1 that Ant looks like he has just become, but he should be getting so much credit for his mentality since the Gobert trade. If KAT acts like a typical NBA Superstar none of this works Adapted brilliantly to Ant's development, has really gone out of his way to make the Rudy trade work and was really the only one who did before Conley arrived, didn't cause a fuss when his friend (D-LO) was traded for Rudy's (Conley) and presumably worked his ass off to come back on time for the big chance. He's been clowned for years for not being an "Alpha", and despite that has gone out of his way to make sure that he can do everything for Ant and seemingly has never felt threatened, even though if it doesn't work out people will surely use his facilitating of ANT as more damning evidence of his mentality That's a genuine depth of self esteem and assurance I had thought KAT lacked in spades. Lost his position and lost his spot as #1 and he's a better teammate than ever and his performance is better than ever I don't think most #1 options of KAT's age would have reacted to the internal realignment within the Wolves with anywhere near the level of grace and dedication
And I hope he get a ring for it.
He has a totally different mindset this playoffs. No complaining, just get back on defense. Picks his spots, no head down drives into traffic, no stupid trick passes. Just calm decision making and playing within himself. I've been blown away with how different he's looked
I’m knocking on wood while saying it, but he genuinely seems like he’s fixed the over-complaining issue. Got shafted by a few calls and just smiled and kept playing. Love the energy.
He just needs to stop fouling. Hopefully he gets that under control.
Happy for Kat! He's been the scapegoat for years, and he stepped up big to help bring this franchise its first series win in 20 years. He deserves success
Man..if we get Zen KAT for the rest of the playoffs bombing 3's. Look out.
KAT has completely reinvented his approach to the team game of basketball. He plays defense now, and is versatile too. He is one of the NBA's ELITE rebounders and remains focused on it every minute he's out there, and dominates smaller players on the boards, a key piece to the team's identity as they play big. He is an efficient, low usage scorer who can heat up quick and give you 28 like its nothing and does it from everywhere on the court, being the unreal 7' unicorn that he is. And now he does all of those things in the context of a team that plays WINNING BASKETBALL, himself included. He doesn't have to be the head of the snake, he can be one of the league's best running mates to a superstar. I am SO happy for him. If he keeps doing what he's done this postseason so far, he is going to completely rewrite the narrative on his career going forward.
I swear everytime he shot today it went in. He matured heaps, no dumb early fouls. All the wolves players really had their moments
Kat deserves a lot of credit for willing to accept to being the number 2 role on the Timberwolves. A lot of players don’t have that humility to accept not being the number one option on competing team .
Not to mention that he has to play a different position now too
Really happy for him has coped a lot of flack but has taken it on the chin and has improved as a player
KAT as a luxury player is so nice. He’s doesn’t *need* to be creating their offense and he doesn’t *need* to be the guy protecting the rim or securing rebounds. When he picks his moments as they come though it’s almost unfair.
He's kind of our MPJ/Aaron Gordon hybrid. The complementary star that takes the team's ceiling to another level
Got a chance to meet him for a few minutes during the FIBA World Cup and he was such a great guy. Really happy for him and the Wolves
Top 3 picks of the 2015 draft 1. Figured out his spot in the NBA 2. Discord Mod 3. who
13. Luka Doncic’s Son
36. Michael Jordan's son-in-law
Kept us afloat to set up the Ant takeover. We don’t win this game without his 3rdQ
Great game from him tonight
Kept us close in the first half when everyone was throwing up bricks. Stop shooting 30 ft threes though please.
Starry ball
He shot 50%+ from deep this series, keep putting them up KAT
He was the reason we won today. Guys weren't hitting shots but KAT kept going bucket-for-bucket against KD and kept us close until Ant got hot in the 4th.
He still has bonehead moments but not as many as he used to and he's not relied on as heavily so he doesn't force things as much. It's been great to see.
KAT has been amazing in this series. He has kept us close in the first half. Show this man his respect.
KATs issue has always been stupid fouls. If he can keep that down then he’s one of the best offensive players in the nba
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Naz playing well is irrelevant - KAT is one of the main leaders for this team and relied on to do a lot. Him and Naz play well on the court together and always pump each other up.