The New York Knicks were on track, but after reaching the Eastern Conference finals, the Indiana Pacers put an end to their journey.
After losing Game 6 by a score of 125-108, the team took stock of their games, and one player did not fare well. Karl-Anthony Towns was harshly criticized in reports for his defensive performance.
And not necessarily for his defensive skills, but rather because the coaches and players highlighted some of the 29-year-old center’s attitudes and passivity that became recurrent.
Towns, harshly criticized by the Knicks
One of them was his lack of communication about his defensive decisions. In addition, his lack of recognition of responsibilities, his incorrect defensive coverage, and his apparent disregard for proper defensive schemes caused problems, according to The Athletic reporters James Edwards and Fred Katz.
“He frequently executed incorrect coverages that he did not warn about or explain. After it became a recurring issue, players began to worry that Towns did not understand the importance of this issue,” they wrote.
Despite having been coached by Tom Thibodeau during his time with the Timberwolves and knowing his defensive emphasis, Towns seems to have forgotten what he learned. However, the statistics are on his side, and it must be acknowledged that he did not do badly. He averaged 24.4 points, 12.8 rebounds, two assists per game, and a 52.6% field goal percentage and 33% three-point percentage in this playoff series.
Nevertheless, what he gained on offense, he lost on defense, as his actions led to a breakdown in his relationship with Jalen Brunson. The point guard rarely played with him or passed him the ball, which ultimately affected the Knicks’ defense, and the Pacers took advantage of that, knocking them out of the finals.
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