The NBA Finals, especially this year’s edition, is one full of narratives that mean differently for everyone involved. For the fans, this is a throwback to the last championship series of the 90s, one of smashmouth basketball, a clash of stylistic schemes, and the Larry O’Brien trophy on center court.
Meanwhile, a shot at glory is what awaits the 30 players from both the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs. But one player in particular could be the game-changer for the Knicks.
Yes, Jalen Brunson is still the heart and soul of New York, but Karl-Anthony Towns is in a unique position to make a dent, heck, even a big difference in this series. Towns has the unenviable task of guarding Victor Wembanyama, a role that could become more crucial depending on how Mitchell Robinson recovers from a fractured pinky finger.
While social media has at times lit up Towns’ body language and quotable quotes, he’s still capable of limiting his counterparts on the other end. He can stretch the floor with his shooting and isn’t afraid to take contact despite screaming at the top of his lungs hoping to get the attention of the referees. And unlike Chet Holmgren, Towns is not afraid to perform on the big stage.
Numbers-wise, this is Towns’ lowest-scoring postseason since his first playoff appearance, but overall, this is the most productive he has been in the postseason. His shooting splits (.572/.489/.891) are stellar, pointing to how he has been able to maximize his relatively limited touches and continues to build on another All-Star campaign.
Either matchup may not have really mattered for Towns, who produced similar stats against the Spurs and the Thunder save for his rebounding (17.5 rebounds per game against the Oklahoma City Thunder this season versus 10.5 versus San Antonio). The strong rebounding against the Spurs should be crucial, especially since even the Spurs’ perimeter players tend to crash the boards.
But Towns’ greater contributions will likely boil down to two things: How he defends Wembanyama and how he takes advantage of the minutes Wembanyama is on the bench. Getting Wembanyama into foul trouble could make Towns and the Knicks’ lives easier, but the goal is to make Wembanyama think twice. A confident Wembanyama is a dangerous Wembanyama and making him hesitate will change how he attacks on offense and stunt the momentum of San Antonio.
Nonetheless, look for Karl-Anthony Towns to leave it all out on the court, as he knows that the city of New York recognizes when he and the New York Knicks put in the work. Of course, the goal is to end the 53-year title drought and it all begins with making sure there are no extraterrestrial experiences in the Madison Square Garden.
