It's been two games, but Karl-Anthony Towns has been making a solid Finals MVP case. The New York Knicks center is playing the best basketball of his career on both ends of the ball, something that's never been said about the star before. His unique talents as a center, as well as his defensive effort against Victor Wembanyama, have given the San Antonio Spurs fits in two games.
Wembanyama acknowledged Towns' impact after Game 2. The Spurs center said that because of Towns and the rest of the Knicks' players, they are being challenged in a completely different way compared to the rest of their playoff run.
“It’s very different from previous series,” Wembanyama said. “He’s (Towns) bringing us into difficult areas because they’re good players. He’s a good player. We need to figure it out. We need to keep working on it. We can do a little bit better. We can do better.”
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Towns' shooting prowess has been the primary reason why the Spurs' formidable defense is breaking down. San Antonio relies heavily on Wembanyama's rim pressure on defense, allowing their guards to play aggressively in the perimeter. With Towns on the court, though, the Knicks can run a 5-out scheme that forces Wembanyama to respect New York's many shooters.
The most surprising thing about Towns' performance in the playoffs, though, is his defense. One of the biggest knocks on the Knicks center's game is his lackluster defense. Against Wembanyama, though, Towns is turning in his best defensive performance. His ability to keep up with the French center and wall him off the paint has thrown the Spurs off guard. Towns is executing the Knicks' gameplan against Wemby perfectly and has them on the brink of their first championship.
In Game 2, Towns finished with 21 points on 8-12 shooting, making three of his five three-point attempts. The Knicks center also added 13 rebounds and four assists. Heading into the series, many believed that Towns would be the key for the Knicks this series. KAT is doing that and then some.
It's been two games, but Karl-Anthony Towns has been making a solid Finals MVP case. The New York Knicks center is playing the best basketball of his career on both ends of the ball, something that's never been said about the star before. His unique talents as a center, as well as his defensive effort against Victor Wembanyama, have given the San Antonio Spurs fits in two games.