How Karl-Anthony Towns could attack Victor Wembanyama to the Knicks’ advantage
Yahoo Sports senior NBA analyst Kevin O’Connor is joined by ESPN NBA analyst Tim Legler to discuss how New York could approach getting the San Antonio big man into foul trouble in the NBA Finals. Check out the full conversation on “The Kevin O’Connor Show” and subscribe on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , YouTube or wherever you listen.
Video Transcript
Is there anything the Knicks should be trying to do to get Wemby onto KAT?
Is there any advantage to the Knicks' side if they try that?
I don't, you know, that's, that's, I don't It's, it's easier said than done, and I don't know, like, here's the thing with, with Karl-Anthony Towns.
I think if Wemby's guarding him, the one thing that I think is an advantage for them, if they can create that matchup, Wemby's natural inclination from anywhere on the floor, flood to the paint on penetration, right?
Floods it when he sees it.
It's just his body's gonna Like most shot blockers, they're running to the lane.
Well, now you're guarding one of the elite shooting seven-footers in this league.
It's a big recovery, whether it's for Wemby or somebody else smaller, where KAT's not affected.
You'd want Wemby on that closeout.
That's a lot of ground to cover because this guy's a threat from 25 feet.
That's a lot for him to be able to do.
And the other th- the other area that's good for the Knicks, if they can get that matchup, on the closeout, if it is Wemby to KAT, KAT is really good at putting his head down against closeouts, getting his shoulder into you and drawing fouls on the way to the rim.
I think you gotta get Wemby off the floor if you're the Knicks, if you can.
Find a way to get this guy in foul trouble.
It's hard because he's so long, he can back up and still create havoc.
But Karl-Anthony Towns is that guy that can put his head down on a straight line drive, get his body into you as you're closing out at him, and draw that contact that could lead to a foul at the rim, and I think it's an important part of the series.
The anti-Chet in some ways.
Yep, ex- exactly.
Right.
Oh, no question about it.
That, that was what it was.
Particularly the way, the way Chet finished out.
You know, shook doesn't begin to describe it.
Go- what he was experiencing.
That's not gonna be the case, I don't think, with Karl-Anthony Towns.
He's gonna be ready for that challenge, and he's gotta be smart about how he goes about attacking him.
If he sees he has a leverage advantage, you've gotta get into his body, and you've gotta figure out a way to force him to, to hit you so that maybe you can get a foul on him.
It's certainly, it's a better way to negate shot blocking anyway.
