![[Timberwolves] Shaquille O'Neal and Karl-Anthony Towns (Credits - YouTube and CBS Sports)](https://static.sportsmanor.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/27033308/Shaquille-ONeal-and-Karl-Anthony-Towns-Credits-YouTube-and-CBS-Sports-750x422.jpg "“Unacceptable”: Shaquille O’Neal Gives Karl-Anthony Towns and Timberwolves a Major Pep-Talk as Title Reign Hangs in Balance 1")
SUMMARY
- Karl-Anthony Towns has been shooting a conference finals worst 13.6% from deep and went 0-8 from beyond the arc in Game 3.
- Shaquille O'Neal believes KAT needs to utilize other aspects of his game and not just stick to shooting deep range shots.
Game 3 of the Dallas Mavericks and Minnesota Timberwolves was fairly one-sided until the end of the third quarter. Midway through the third, Anthony Edwards began making consistent baskets which helped cut the chase significantly. During the fourth quarter, there were multiple lead changes which eventually saw the Mavericks close it out. Dallas is currently up 3-0, making them the inevitable winners of the series.
While both teams have been making equal efforts on defense, the Mavericks have simply been better in terms of scoring led by Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. They finished with a combined total of 66 points split evenly. However, they’ve been holding off Minnesota from scoring. Six Timberwolves players finished in double-digits but only Edwards had more than 20 points. Karl-Anthony Towns and Jaden McDaniels haven’t done much in this series either, and now it’s way too late to recover.
Shaquille O’Neal believes the Timberwolves aren’t making required adjustments
While Edwards is fighting through defenses as much as he can, Towns hasn’t been able to find a rhythm. He’s been averaging 15 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game against Dallas. In Game 3, Towns shot 0-8 from deep, while finishing with 5-18 from the field. Shaquille O’Neal recognized that the Timberwolves are also being too nice to themselves despite being down 0-3.
“I like these guys, they’re being nice. But they’re not telling the truth. When you have a great one-two punch, you want your stat line to be one 33, the other guy 33. Karl-Anthony Town has not played well. And he’s not stepped up, he’s not helped [Anthony] Edwards,” he said.
“As the other part of the superstar tandem, you have to do your job. And Karl-Anthony Towns has not stepped up. Zero for eight from three is unacceptable. After you shoot two threes and it don’t go down, take your big a** back in the lane,” Shaq concluded. This has been a major point of concern for the Timberwolves as Towns is not only scoring less but he’s shooting under 30% in the series.
Karl-Anthony Towns gets Shaquille O’Neal scratching his head with a bold claim
After the horrifying Game 3 loss against the Mavericks, Towns made a bold claim that had the entire cast of NBA on TNT baffled. He said, “I’m up to 1,500 shots a day and shot so well all playoffs. Confidence [is] really high. And to be having these unfortunate bounces and these looks that just not going in, it’s tough.” According to StatMamba, KAT is shooting a historically worst 13.6% from deep in the conference finals.
Karl-Anthony Towns currently has the lowest 3PT% in a Conference Finals series in NBA history (13.6% 3PT) 😬 pic.twitter.com/QMAhlKpLYp
— StatMamba (@StatMamba) May 27, 2024
As soon as the cameras cut to the TNT supergroup, Draymond Green, who was a guest on the show said Towns was “capping”. The Timberwolves center certainly couldn’t get much of a reaction out of himself as he was left scratching his head the entire time. Kenny Smith, a former NBA star also believes that KAT would be required to be shooting for at least two hours every day to meet a 1,500-shot quota. But needless to say, the Wolves have probably reached the end of their road, and we’re most likely going to witness Dallas reach the finals for the first time since 2011.
