Absent since the end of November due to a calf injury, Karl-Anthony Towns is still stuck in the infirmary. But even if his return to the courts is long overdue, Wolves are already thinking of the best way to reintegrate him, and it could well be off the bench.
Wolves have learned to manage without Karl-Anthony Towns this season. Friday against Brooklyn, Minnesota played its 47th straight game without its All-Star interior, for a positive record of 24 wins – 23 losses (10-11 with KAT). Inevitably, habits were created, automatisms were formed and a new balance had to be found.
To avoid turning everything upside down when Towns returns, an All-Star caliber interior turning in 21 points – 8 rebounds – 5 assists in 34 minutes this season, the latter could be used as a replacement to begin with. In any case, this is a hypothesis put forward by coach Chris Finch (via the Star Tribune).
“KAT will help us no matter what. If he’s on a minutes restriction, maybe you have to think strategically and get him off the bench early, depending on how many minutes he can play. I think he will be open to all possibilities when the time comes.”
The starting five most used this season by Finch is the one made up of Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert, Jaden McDaniels, Kyle Anderson and a point guard, whether it’s D’Angelo Russell (transferred to the Lakers at the deadline) or Mike Conley ( arrived at Wolves at the deadline). He was used 26 times in total for a record of 14 wins – 12 losses. In this configuration with only one real interior (Rudy), the dynamic is obviously different than when Gobert and KAT were lined up together early in the season, a partnership that had its ups and downs amid Minnesota’s false start (9-10 record after 19 games with Rudy and KAT).
Holder or substitute, in restriction of minutes or not, it will in any case be interesting to see the way in which Chris Finch will manage the Towns case and the impact that it will have on Wolves. Provided that KAT returns of course because at the time of these lines, no return date has been set, Charles-Antoine remaining limited to light basketball activities…
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Source texte : Star Tribune